Previewing the Play-Offs: Which European Qualification Spots Are Up for Grabs in the UK? And What Can We Expect from the Relegation and Promotion Fight this Season?

Antwerp and Union will play the final of the Croky Cup on May 9.

Which European tickets are being played for?

Just like last season, Belgian clubs are allowed to divide five European tickets among themselves, but their value has increased thanks to our eighth place in the UEFA coefficient ranking. This year's champion will go directly to the group stage of the (renewed) Champions League.

The five European tickets

  1. Champions League group stage
  2. Champions League third qualifying round
  3. Play-offs Europa League
  4. Second qualifying round Europa League
  5. Second qualifying round of Conference League

How are the European tickets distributed?

Please note: the five European tickets above are ranked from valuable to least valuable. Much will depend on who wins the cup: Antwerp or Union. And from where those two teams ultimately end up in the competition.

Antwerp and Union will play the final of the Croky Cup on May 9. — © BELGIUM

It works like this: the winner of the Croky Cup will soon receive a ticket for the Europa League play-offs. The third most valuable ticket is that. But if the cup winner finishes in the top two in the competition, he or she will of course receive a ticket for the Champions League and the cup winner's ticket will move on to third in the competition. So not to the losing cup finalist.

If the winner of the Croky Cup finishes in the top four, the fifth of the Champions' play-offs will play a single 'final' against the winner of the Europe play-offs for the last European ticket (second qualifying round Conference League).

How is the relegation battle going?

Something new compared to previous years: the Relegation Play-offs. The last four of the regular competition each play against each other twice. At the moment these are OH Leuven (13th), Eupen (14th), RWDM (15th) and KV Kortrijk (16th). The last three can no longer avoid the play-downs, but for OHL there is still a glimmer of hope on the last match day, because Westerlo and Charleroi have three more points and are not yet safe.

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