2003–04 Belgian First Division
The 2003–04 season of the Belgian First Division was held between 8 August 2003 and 15 May 2004. Sporting Anderlecht became champions on 24 April 2004.
Promoted teams
These teams were promoted from the second division at the start of the season:
- Cercle Brugge K.S.V. (second division champions)
- K. Heusden-Zolder (playoff winner)
Relegated teams
These teams were relegated to the second division at the end of the season:
Anderlecht's title success
The battle for the title was not great as Anderlecht had a big lead over their opponents (mainly Club Brugge). However, a bad finish from Anderlecht kept the suspense until the 31st matchday when Club Brugge drew with Mouscron while the team from Brussels also drew (1-1) at Herman Vanderpoortenstadion, the homeground of Lierse.
Battle for Europe
The next week, Club Brugge was sure to enter the UEFA Champions League Preliminary Round with a 1-0 win against Standard Liège, then lying third. In spite of this defeat, Standard managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup as they were 6 points ahead of Mouscron after the 32nd matchday. The suspense was killed after a 1-1 draw against Charleroi the next Saturday.
The relegation dog fight
The end of the league was thus centered on the battle against relegation. Four teams were concerned : R.A.E.C. Mons and Charleroi, which finally saved themselves, R. Antwerp F.C. and K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder finishing respectively 6 and 5 points adrift.
Final league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | R.S.C. Anderlecht | 34 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 77 | 27 | +50 | 81 | Qualified for 2004–05 UEFA Champions League[a] |
2 | Club Brugge | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 77 | 31 | +46 | 72 | |
3 | Standard Liège | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 68 | 31 | +37 | 65 | Qualified for 2004–05 UEFA Cup |
4 | K.R.C. Genk | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 59 | Qualified for 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup |
5 | R.E. Mouscron | 34 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 64 | 42 | +22 | 59 | |
6 | K.V.C. Westerlo | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 51 | 45 | +6 | 52 | Qualified for 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup |
7 | K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 34 | 40 | −6 | 44 | |
8 | R.A.A. Louviéroise | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 45 | 46 | −1 | 44 | |
9 | K.A.A. Gent | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 33 | 34 | −1 | 40 | Qualified for 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup |
10 | K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 45 | 54 | −9 | 39 | |
11 | Lierse S.K. | 34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 39 | |
12 | K.S.K. Beveren | 34 | 11 | 5 | 18 | 45 | 58 | −13 | 38 | Qualified for 2004–05 UEFA Cup |
13 | K. Sint-Truidense V.V. | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 36 | 50 | −14 | 38 | |
14 | Cercle Brugge K.S.V. | 34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 52 | −24 | 35 | |
15 | R. Charleroi S.C. | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 47 | −12 | 33 | |
16 | R.A.E.C. Mons | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 33 | |
17 | K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 36 | 68 | −32 | 28 | Relegated to Division II |
18 | R. Antwerp F.C. | 34 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 30 | 67 | −37 | 27 |
Notes:
- ^ Club Brugge competed in the UEFA Cup First Round after being eliminated in the Champions League Third Qualifying Round.
Top goal scorers
Scorer | Goals | Team |
---|---|---|
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28 | Mouscron |
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21 | Standard Liège |
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16 | Westerlo |
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15 | Anderlecht |
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15 | Club Brugge |
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14 | Club Brugge |
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14 | Racing Genk |
See also
References
- (in French) Sport.be website - Archive