Our 63rd and final match of the season is a very special one. In the City derby tonight, Club can crown itself the national champion for the nineteenth time. You can read all about the home game against Cercle in the Club Facts!
The Match
Tonight, Club plays Cercle for the 158th time in the highest soccer league. Of the previous 78 home matches, FCB won 48, drew 18 and lost 12. The last 10 home matches did not lose to our city rival.
Club enters the City derby as the leader with 49 points. Union and Anderlecht follow on three points, but will finish above Club in the event of a tie after a higher final ranking in the regular league. Provided a win or draw, Club thus captures its 19th national title in history. In the event of a defeat, it must hope for point losses to Union and Anderlecht. To win a title on the last matchday, that has been Club's history since 1920.
In this edition of the Champions' Play-Offs, Club did not lose yet and took 23/27. Only on match day 1 against Cercle and match day 8 against Union could not win. If Club wins, FCB equals Standard's record of 26/30 in Play-Off I / Champions' Play-Offs. Not losing means Club - including the last game at Union last season - has been unbeaten for 11 consecutive playoff games. That, too, would be a record.
Hans Vanaken and Brandon Mechele hoist themselves to the head of an illustrious string of Club legends in the event of a new national title. After all, the pair can take their sixth national title as Club players tonight. For now, they share the record of five national titles with Blue-Black icons such as Birger Jensen, Franky Van der Elst and Ruud Vormer.
Top shooter for Club with 18 league goals is still Igor Thiago. Unfortunately, the Brazilian striker will not be present against Cercle due to an injury he sustained against Union. Skov Olsen follows with 14 goals. Maxim De Cuyper managed his tenth assist of the JPL season against Anderlecht, leading the Bruges ranking. The last time a Club player reached double figures with assists was Noa Lang in 2021/22.