39 games comes down to this. In one corner, the undisputed heavyweight of Belgian football only needing a draw to secure Title No.32. In the other, the underdog who’ve been knocking at the door the entire season. Drama? You bet.

They may have an identical playoffs record (W4 D2 L3), but Anderlecht and Zulte Waregem are really poles apart when it comes to Belgian football. John Van den Brom’s Anderlecht have led the way through most of the regular season and playoffs. With a budget of €40m, they are expected to win the league every year with the calibre of squad on hand to them.

In contrast, Zulte Waregem were 13th last season and weren’t expected to mount anything close to a title push this time round, with a budget of €7.5m. But thanks to inspirational coach Francky Dury, Essevee have upset the apple cart with  largely with a team of castoffs and youngsters. Their away form in particular is formidable, having won at Anderlecht earlier in the season.

Unlike the playoffs themselves, the premise was simple. Anderlecht only needed a draw to retain their title, but a win for Zulte Waregem would see them lift their first ever championship. However, if Zulte Waregem lost, they could be pipped by Club Brugge to the promised land of Champions League football, if they managed to beat Genk.

The magnitude of the fixture clearly played a part in the early going. While Anderlecht controlled the tempo, they never really pressed home their slight possession advantage. Zulte Waregem seemed content to play on the counter with Jens Naessens in particularly finding room on the right. Perhaps it was too equally matched teams cancelling each other out. Essevee held firm, especially with Junior Malanda in the centre, and quelled any Anderlecht attack well. The fact that Anderlecht took until 40 minutes to muster a shot on target – Guillaume Gillet heading it straight at Sammy Bossut from a deep Lucas Biglia free-kick – told you all you needed to know. The tension was palpable.

Chances were at a premium for both teams. Thorgan Hazard and standout Mbaye Leye combined several times excellently in the opening 45 minutes. The younger Rode Duivel had an opportunity to take the lead but Silvio Proto reacted quickly to mop up the defensive sluggishness  The Chelsea loanee took time to make an impact in the game, having excelled against Club Brugge earlier in the week. He was confidently kept quiet on the left by Gillet and had to work hard to find space, following his hunting partner Leye around the field.

Dury’s side gave away some needless fouls towards near the break, and it was the last chance of the half that almost punished them. Lucas Biglia whipped in another dead-ball situation to find Bram Nuytinck, but the Dutch U21 international’s header rattled back off the crossbar, a relief to the travelling support.

Recognising the need for a goal, the Zulte Waregem coach swallowed his pride and sent on the exiled midfielder Franck Berrier for Ibrahima Conte. The Frenchman had in recent weeks angered his teammates with his actions, after making clear he wants to leave the club, threatening to break apart this close-knit side.

But his arrival brought about the desired change Dury was looking for. Leye and Hazard again worked together on the right, before the Senegalese striker teed up Jens Naessens on the far side, who placed his header past Proto. Against all odds, Essevee had taken the lead with their only shot on target.

It lasted only two minutes. A foul on the edge of the area gave Biglia another chance from a set-piece. This time the Argentinian had a huge slice of luck, as his shot deflected off the wall and past Sammy Bossut. Not that the 40,000 strong crowd mattered.

Immediately following Biglia’s goal, John van den Brom opted to shut up shop, taking off Dennis Praet and Behrang Safari for the assumed safer heads of Olivier Deschacht and Demy De Zeeuw. The left-back however was lucky to stay on the field for a challenge on Leye.

Yet despite a draw being enough, Anderlecht had the next chance to take the lead. Dieumerci Mbokani, linked with West Bromwich Albion during the week, expertly found Mati Suarez with a lofted ball over the back four. However El Magico could only chip the bar.

More drama was to come as Cheikhou Kouyaté rashly jumped into Jens Naessens and saw red, leaving Les Mauves with ten men, for the final ten. On came Marcin Wasilewski for his final appearance to help keep it level. Zulte Waregem threw everything at Anderlecht but to no avail, and Anderlecht secured a record 32nd league title in nail-bitingly tense circumstances

There was no underdog victory at the Vanden Stock, but the draw meant Zulte Waregem qualified for the Champions League playoff round – something which Francky Dury and his team could only have dreamed of last summer. Beating most of the established order of Club Brugge, Genk and Standard to second is a magnificent achievement, ultimately coming up just short of the crown.

John van den Brom gets his first title in his debut season in Belgium and you have to hand it to Anderlecht. They may have done it the hard way, but ultimately, they were the best side in the country this year.

Teams

Anderlecht – Proto Gillet, Kouyaté, Nuytinckx, Safari (Deschacht 64′), Biglia, Kljestan, Praet (De Zeeuw 62′), Jovanovic ( Wasyl 85′), Suárez, Mbokani.

Zulte Waregem - Bossut, De Fauw, Colpaert, D’Haene, Verboom, Malanda (Skulason 81′), Delaplace, Hazard, Conte (Berrier 45′) Naessens, Leye.

Just three teams were still left in the fight for Jupiler Pro League glory. By the end of the penultimate game, only two would be left standing. Top of the tree Anderlecht travelled to six placed Lokeren, while Zulte Waregem and Club Brugge knew a defeat would mean the end of the title ambitions. Chris Mayer and Luke Harvey saw it all unfold.

Current champions Anderlecht knew that a win at Daknam would put the destination into their own hands. They would have to do it without Lucas Biglia in midfield.

Elsewhere, former police detective Francky Dury certainly laid down the law, sensationally benching Franck Berrier. The French midfielder had made his desire to leave clear previously, which derailed Zulte Waregem’s playoff momentum. The Essevee boss, seeing squad morale on the floor, decided to bring in Jens Naessens which gave Thorgan Hazard to roam in midfield.

Juan Carlos Garrido’s side got off to the worst possible start as Óscar Duarte pushed Naessens inexplicably on 10 minutes. Althought it wasn’t forceful, the Costa Rican was the last man and had to go. The younger Hazard, who earlier in the day had received his first callup to the national team, duly converted.

Elsewhere Anderlecht took the lead at Daknam. US international Sacha Kljestan headed past Jugoslav Lazic to give the champions some breathing space at the top.

Lokeren didn’t fancy lying down, even if Peter Maes’ record against Les Mauves is similar to Steve Bruce’s vs Manchester United. Olivier Deschacht brought down Benjamin Mokulu Tembe giving Lokeren a way back into the fixture. Silvio Proto, voted goalkeeper of the year in Belgium earlier in the week, guessed correctly where Mijat Maric was going, retaining Anderlecht’s lead.

Just moments later at Regenboogenstadion, Thorgan Hazard expertly played in Ebony Shoe winner Mbaye Leye, and the Senegalese striker slotted past Vladan Kujovic to score his 16th goal of the season. The younger Hazard was really making his mark, along with Jonathan Delaplace in the centre of midfield.

With Zulte Waregem throwing down a marker, Anderlecht duly responded. Mati Suarez, now fully installed in the Sporting side following a lengthy layoff, scored his second in as many games to double their lead just before the break. Is he looking to put himself in the shop window?

At the interval, it looked like we were set for a final game title showdown between the two teams arguably most deserving of the championship. Anderlecht made their game safe quickly into the second  half, and it was Suarez again proving decisive with his second of the game. Three clear and coasting.

The same couldn’t be said in Waregem, just yet. Juan Carlos Garrido, rightly fuming at his side’s first half showing, brought on Laurens De Bock for Tom Hogli and it wasn’t long before the returning captain Ryan Donk dragged his team back into it.

It wasn’t for long. Five minutes later, Thorgan Hazard was again the creator, teeing up the other captain Davy De Fauw. Donk slid in but could only divert the effort past Kujovic, and once again Essevee could breathe.

Dury’s side weren’t finished though. Hazard and Malanda strode upfield with Leye. It was the defensive midfielder who found Leye, before the top scorer in Playoffs 1 sold the Club Brugge centre-backs Almeback and Donk down the river and let rip. Game safe and title decider sealed.The coach’s decision to ditch the want-away Berrier looked justified, as Thorgan Hazard assumed the creative role left by the Frenchman to greater effect, as well settling down Essevee’s erratic performances with Berrier present. Hazard grabbed his goal from open play just before full-time, although it might be sent to the Dubious Goals Panel.

Donk found time for another consolation late on to make it 4-2. At the same time, Anderlecht found time to score a screamer from Demy De Zeeuw. Even more shocking was Tom De Sutter’s backheel in the buildup. Les Mauves gifted Lokeren two goals too, as Bram Nuytinck put into his own net and Jeremy Taravel followed up. Not it mattered a jot.

Essevee were stretching Club Brugge to their absolute limits and looked full of verve. The 5-2 scoreline wasn’t quite the thriller we saw last month, but you do wonder how close it would have been without Duarte’s push early on. 14 goals in two classics between these two shouldn’t be sniffed at.

So it all goes to Sunday, where Anderlecht meet Zulte Waregem to decide the destination of the title. It’s the dominant force seeking their 32nd title against the plucky misfits who’ve fought tooth and nail throughout the 39 games. If the Playoffs have taught us anything this season, it’s that anything can happen. Fortunately for Anderlecht, it won’t go to penalties.

Genk left it late but finally overcame spirited underdogs Cercle Brugge, thanks to goals from Bennard Kumordzi and captain Jelle Vossen.

The 2-0 win was Racing’s fourth victory in four finals, though they were frustrated for 80 minutes by a team whose real fight lies in the relegation playoffs.

Battling to stay in the Jupiler Pro League for a second time, the timing of the cup final couldn’t have come at a worse time for Cercle Brugge coach Lorenzo Staelens, indicating before the match that he would rest players if Genk were coasting it. He intended to field the same team that started against and won at Mouscron at the weekend. However Bernt Evens injured his achilles in the warmup, forcing a hasty reshuffle. Mario Been in comparison had the luxury of fielding his strongest XI in the search for silverware.

Racing were quickest out of the blocks, with captain Jelle Vossen at the heart of Genk’s attacks, setting up both Khalidou Koulibaly and strike-partner Benji De Ceulaer in the opening 10 minutes. French starlet (with stars in his hair no less) Steeven Joseph Monrose had fleeting moments in the first half, cutting in from the left but Bram Verbist was equal to all of his efforts.

The difference between Foeke Booy’s Cercle side and Staelens was clear to see, as Cercle managed to get a foothold into the game. Late replacement Rudy showed great skill to slide past Koulibaly before firing wide. The Groen en Zwart always seemed one move away from creating something special, but for all their drive and determination, they were lacking that final bit of quality. Rudy, William Carvalho and gargantuan semi-final hero Michael Uchebo all combined well but were incapable of finishing the move.

As closely fought as the showpiece was, the first half lacked the lustre. The closest chance fell to the underdogs as Stef Wils strode up for a corner, heading just inches wide. You sensed that the longer the game went, the more it favoured the overwhelming favourites.

De Ceulaer, clearly wanting to erase the memories of last year’s cup final red card with Lokeren looked dangerous in parts too, exposing Cercle’s right-hand side. Genk turned the screw after the interval, and De Ceulaer was at the centre of it, going to ground twice in the area and then handballing when things didn’t go his way.

Genk threw all but the kitchen sink at their opponents in the second half yet never really tested Verbist. Cercle defended resolutely throughout with several blocks.

While Joseph Monrose was arguably Genk’s most dangerous player, he was comfortably their most wasteful, repeatedly shanking crosses. Been chose to replace him with impact sub Glynor Plet with ten minutes to go.

His catalytic change appeared to have the desired effect, as Kumordzi rose highest to head home a whipped-in free-kick six minutes from time, sparking celebrations in the predominantly Genk crowd. Their victory was sealed just before the 90 minute mark, as Thomas Buffel smartly set up Vossen to dink it over the despairing Verbist.

It was a hard-earned yet deserved victory for Genk, whose attention turns back to the playoffs now silverware has been won. For Staelens and Cercle, the fight to stay in the top flight can get back on course.

Cercle Brugge (4-2-3-1) – Verbist, Cornelis, Wils, Mertens, Vidarsson, Smolders, Carvalho, Boi (Bakenga 66′), Uchebo, D’Haene (Boghossian 89′), Rudy (Buyl 87′)

Unused subs. Coppens, Van Eenoo, Van Roose, Dickoh

Manager: Lorenzo Staelens

Genk (4-4-2): Koteles, Anele Ngongca, Simaeys, Koulibaly, Tshimanga, Buffel, Hyland, Kumordzi, Joseph-Monrose (Plet 82′), Vossen (Gorius 93′), De Ceulaer (Barda 72′)

Unused subs Van Hout, Kara, Ojo,  Hamalainen,

Manager – Mario Been

With only three fixtures remaining, we’re still no closer to knowing who will lift the Jupiler Pro League at the end of the season. Four points separated surprise leader Zulte Waregem from fifth placed Racing Genk going into the weekend, but coming out of it, the only ‘artificial’  title race worth caring about in Europe got that much more intriguing, as Chris Mayer reports…

Zulte Waregem 0-4 Genk

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Friday night’s delight was served up at the Regenboogenstadion, as two teams with identical records (W2 D2 L2) met looking to get back on the right track. Mario Been’s side were in danger of dropping out of the championship fight altogether, while Zulte Waregem wanted to prove the Standard defeat previous week was merely a blip.

Things couldn’t have started much worse for the home side however, with Racing taking the lead after four minutes. Thomas Buffel’s cross rebounded off Karel D’Haene onto the unfortunate Bruno Godeau’s shin and past the returning Sammy Bossut. Shellshocked, Eseevee conceded again just three minutes later, as Steeven Joseph-Monrose found acres of space on the left and duly finished.

Franky Dury’s words at half-time didn’t help the Essevee defence, who conceded yet another calamitous goal. Bossut fumbled a free-kick straight into the path of Benji De Ceulaer to make it 3-0. Moments later, a lifeline arrived as Thorgan Hazard went down under minimal pressure in the area. Up stepped Mbaye Leye, and just like he did in the 2-1 victory over Anderlecht, the Senegalese striker sidefooted high over the bar. After the game, Leye and Berrier were involved in an ugly spat with Leye, slapping his teammate, before saying post-match words to the effect of ‘either he leaves or I do’. Berrier of course has already made it clear his future lies away from the club, title or not.

Essevee’s nightmare evening was compounded in the 84th minute as Elyaniv Barda lifted it over the despairing keeper. It was a huge win gifted to Genk, reminiscent of their 5-0 cup win in December, but Franky Dury faces the toughest test of the campaign so far – making sure all of his players keep focused on the prize at hand. It would be a great shame if it their title charge ends through squabbling. Leye and Berrier were quick to say it was all water under the bridge, but how detrimental will this be to squad morale?

Anderlecht 2-0 Standard Liège

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The first of Sunday’s games was Belgium’s own Superclasico, the fourth of which this season (another problem with the playoffs). On the move Standard were undefeated in the previous three, and looked to have Sporting’s number. In a fairly tense game, it was Anderlecht who finally set the record straight with a brace from Guillaume Gillet. The auxiliary right-back’s first came from a set-piece, heading past Eiji Kawashima from Lucas Biglia’s well-delivered free-kick.

He was the unlucky man chosen to convert from the penalty spot, after Dieumerci Mbokani went to ground. With Anderlecht missing 11 out of 17 spotkicks this season (excluding shootouts), Gillet overcame the Vanden Stock’s collective nerves to slot coolly into the bottom corner.  Coach John van den Brom was understandably relieved as he made the player practice in training all week for the possibility. Anderlecht retake top spot with this important victories over a fierce rival, which was only Standard’s second defeat in seven matches.

Club Brugge 2-1  Lokeren

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The two teams propping up Playoffs 1 met at the Jan Breydelstadion. Club Brugge knew that a win would take them second though, while Lokeren were just looking to spoil the party. The game was overshadowed by a potentially serious injury to Lokeren’s keeper Boubacar ‘Copa’ Barry. Attempting to save a Carlos Bacca shot, the Ivory Coast international collided with his goalframe, knocking himself out. With officials and players obviously concerned for Copa’s condition, the game was stopped briefly, with the popular  Lokeren’s No.1 leaving on a stretcher straight to hospital. We later learnt that Copa had severe concussion, curtailing his season.The game took a while to find any rhythm due to this.

Suspended Ryan Donk and Carl Hoefkens watched from the stands with loyal supporters, but their presence did little to inspire teammates on the pitch. Maes’ men did well to exploit a high Club Brugge line and took the lead as Garrido’s side were sleeping. A throw-in found Nill De Pauw, who squared to the primed Tunisian Hamdi Harbaoui, to score his 11th goal of the season. Thomas Meunier failed to cut out the attack and was made to pay. The goal only kickstarted things for Blauw-Zwart who equalised just before the interval and once again, it was Maxime Lestienne who provided the quality. In what was almost a carbon copy of last week’s strike vs Anderlecht, the winger cut Hassan El Mouataz to piece before unleashing an unstoppable shot with his left foot into the bottom corner. The 20-year old is in a rich vein of form and it surely can’t be long before a bigger club comes sniffing.

The second period was a rearguard action for Lokeren, placing several defenders on top scorer Carlos Bacca, negating his impact on the fixture. Just over ten minutes from the end, the home side found the breakthrough. Israeli Lior Refaelov let rip from outside the box finding the bottom corner to secure three points and second for Club Brugge, two points off Anderlecht.

Standard were the big winners after the sixth round of play off matches as they moved to within two points of the Pro League summit thanks to a 1-0 win over surprise leaders Zulte Waregem.

For all their complications and annoyances there is no doubt that the convoluted Belgian league system has served up a highly entertaining end to season with five teams separated by just four points with only for matches left to play.

The problem with the system, as mentioned on this website as well as elsewhere on the internet, is how it unfairly reflects the regular season. Anderlecht and Zulte Waregem would be home and dry in an ordinary league but with the Belgian system of cutting points in half for the play off round it has given Club Brugge, Genk and particularly Standard an undeserved second bite at the cherry.

Lokeren appear to have been cut adrift, having notched just one victory in the play offs but for the other five teams it could be anyone’s title this year.

Standard 1-0 Zulte Waregem

Zulte Waregem are the surprise package of Europe, let alone Belgium, and have been chasing Anderlecht for the majority of the season – finally overturning les Mauves when they triumphed in round 4. However their first match at the headway of the Pro League saw them slump to a 1-0 defeat away to Standard.

Standard have been the form team of the play offs, winning four of their six matches and Paul-José M’Poku continue his rich vein of form with a converted penalty to seal all three points at Sclessin. It has been a remarkable time for M’Poku whose stylish haircut and cocky stop-start run up confirm he was once on the books of English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

The win for Standard moved them to within two points of Zulte Waregem who hold their own amazing destiny in their own hands with matches against Genk, Lokeren, Club Brugge and a possible title decide away to Anderlecht left to play. It has been a remarkable season for Essevee whose lack of individual star talent is more than made up for thanks to fantastic season long performances from the likes of Sammy Bossut, Franck Berrier, on loan Thorgan Hazard and the decisive goals of Mbaye Leye. There should also be special mention for Bernard Malanda-Adje who has attracted the attention of Udinese and Fulham in the mid-season transfer window, Zulte managed to resist the overtures of such clubs but will be resigned to losing the 18-year-old during the summer. Fortunately for them they could see off their new superstar with a league winners medal, an incomprehensible fact prior to the seasons start.

For Standard it has been a staggering comeback who have proven to the league that sacking a manager is never too early. The likeable Ron Jans lost his job earlier this season for les Rouches but Rednic’s charge combined with the play off system has thrown Standard right back into the title mix and despite relying heavily on the attacking prowess of youngsters M’Poku, Imoh Ezekiel and Michy Batshuayi they have yet to greatly falter. Yoni Buyens and William Vainqueuer have been calming influences in the centre of midfield while providing goals and Kawashima has marshalled his defenders with great authority. It would do the league system no favours if Standard were to steal this title from under the noses of the teams that have very nearly earned it, but in terms of taking chances as they are presented to them there has been few more clinical than Standard this season.

Club Brugge 2-1 Anderlecht

Anderlecht continued to waver as they tried to regain the control of the league they so nearly wrapped up long ago. They were undone at the hands of Maxime Lestienne whose performances this season have not gone unnoticed as the young Belgian added two goals to his tally for the season. There was a measure of revenge, too, for Club as they beat Anderlecht for the first time this season at the fourth attempt – finally ending the nightmares of the 6-1 drubbing they received at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock where six different Anderlecht players managed to score, Lestienne the sole contributor to Club on that day.

It’s been a fantastic season for Lestienne who actually began the campaign on the sidelines watching the preferred Refaelov and Meunier in action as Georges Leekens began his duties. However the script soon unravelled for the Brugge side who had initially looked like Anderlecht’s biggest threats this season thanks mainly to the goals of Carlos Bacca. Bacca has continued to score, but Leekens has long since departed, acrimoniously of course – the only currency Leekens deals in. Garrido has ushered in a new calm to the team, and though inconsistencies prevail they still retain an outside chance of winning the league this season should they put together four great final performances.

For Anderlecht, however, the wheels are wobbling if not quite off yet, Dieumerci Mbokani has never quite rediscovered his form in 2013 and a stoppage time penalty miss – Anderlecht’s eleventh this season – squandered the chance of a point after Oscar Duarte was sent off for Club.

Anderlecht remain odds on favourites with most bookmakers to retain the league and make it title number 32.

Lokeren 0-0 Genk

Lokeren were unable to capitalise on their shock 4-1 win over Standard as they played out a dull goalless draw with Genk in the only Saturday kick off of PO1. Lokeren have unfortunately been cut adrift of the rest having managed to only win one match of the play off encounters. It comes despite Lokeren finishing the season with only two defeats in their last twelve matches, although six of them were draws, many pundits had thought Lokeren might have enough to see them enter the title race in some form but the step up in class has been too much for the team to overcome. It will bring an end to good seasons for Hamdi Harbaoui, Mijat Maric and Koen Persoons who have been integral to Lokeren’s good season.

For Genk, they remain four points off the top of the league. It may prove too little too late for the side whose inconsistencies have proved fatal to what started as a strong league start. For Genk they must have watched former striker Christian Benteke score three past Sunderland for Aston Villa and longed to have the powerful forward back on their payroll.

Words by Luke Harvey, follow him on Twitter by going here. Now.