Breaking down the race for the European playoffs in the Belgian Pro League and each team involved – tactical analysis

Every season, the race for both the title and European playoffs in the Belgian Pro League is something that is a must-follow. This season, however, the race for the European playoffs could be one of the most hotly contested races outside of the top five leagues in Europe.

Currently, 5th all the way to 12th have a legitimate shot at having post-season football come late April, with this tactical analysis looking a little closer at each of the sides contesting for the four places. Also included will be a small scout report on a key player from each side that could be the difference for them over the next six weeks. 

5th Place: KAA Gent  45 points 

Gent currently sit in 5th place in the Belgian Pro League, but at the time of writing, are only one point back of the championship playoffs and current champions Club Brugge. The Buffalos form has been rather inconsistent as of late domestically, with the club having 2W-1D-2L in their last five league matches. They are however through to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League, with the club hosting Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday in the first leg. 

When looking at the regular season run-in for Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side, it is a rather favourable one. Their next three matches are against sides in and around the relegation zone, with them playing away to Zulte-Waregem, home to KAS Eupen, and away to RFC Seraing.

Following that is a huge tie against second-place Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at home, before finishing off the regular season away to Mechelen and at home to Oostende. With the position they sit in the table currently, plus their relatively easy schedule on the home stretch, without a doubt they will be playing some sort of post-season football this season. 

Key Player: Gift Orban 

When trying to pick out a player that could be key to Gent’s hopes of pushing on to potentially the Championship playoffs, Gift Orban is without a doubt the x-factor and difference maker for this side. The 20-year-old Nigerian striker joined the Belgian side in the January transfer window from Norwegian side Stabæk and has hit the ground running since joining. In six appearances for Gent so far across all competitions, the striker has scored 4 goals and has looked like it will be rather soon that he is sold outside of Belgium for a large profit.

The data viz above shows the shot selection as well as xG of the Nigerian striker since his winter arrival from Norwegian football. As we can see, he is heavily overperforming his xG so far, with 4 goals on a total of 1.61 xG. He is also averaging a goal every four shots, a staggering statistic considering he has only been in Belgian football for about six weeks. When trying to pick out a key player for Gent’s run-in, it is undoubtedly Gift Orban. 

6th place: Standard Liège  45 points 

Level on points with Gent are another huge Belgian side, with Standard Liège beginning to become a team to reckon with again under the tutelage of former Celtic and NYCFC boss Ronny Deila. After a mixed start to the campaign for the Norwegian manager in his first season in charge, the results picked up, with the club now all but confirmed to be in European or even Championship playoffs this season.