2012–13 in Belgian football

Football in Belgium
Season2012–13
Men's football
Pro LeagueAnderlecht
Second DivisionOostende
Third Division AHoogstraten
Third Division BVirton
CupGenk
Super CupAnderlecht
← 2011–12 Belgium 2013–14 →

The 2012–13 football season in Belgium, which is the 110th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2012 until June 2013.

National team football

Men's national football team

Main article: Belgium national football team

With no less than four players winning individual awards as best player in their league following conclusion of the 2011–12 season, namely Eden Hazard (in France), Vincent Kompany (in England), Kevin Mirallas (in Greece) and Jan Vertonghen (in the Netherlands), questions were raised how it was possible that Belgium had not managed to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. Moreover, this raised the belief that Belgium would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, even with rather inexperienced head coach Marc Wilmots in charge after Georges Leekens quit in May 2012.

In a friendly before the actual qualifying campaign, the Red Devils managed to beat the Netherlands by a score of 4-2, with Dries Mertens the man of the match, scoring once and giving two assists. For once, a decent start was made, as Belgium won in Wales and kept Croatia to a 1-1 draw at home. The team continued on their good spirits, following up with a 0-3 win in Serbia, the biggest ever loss for the Serbian team, and a 2-0 win at home against Scotland. This left Belgium and Croatia together in the lead with 10 points out of 12 and with the other four teams trailing 6 or more points behind it already looked like they would be battling it out for first place. Also, by November Belgium moved into position 20 on the FIFA World Rankings, their highest position since 2004. Belgium finished the year 2012 with a 2-1 friendly loss in Romania.

In 2013, Belgium started with a 2-1 win against Slovakia, due to a last minute goal by Dries Mertens, before winning twice against Macedonia to keep their unbeaten status in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. In June, while having risen to a record high 12th position in the FIFA World Rankings, Belgium first beat United States 2-4 in a friendly in Cleveland, before winning their final qualifying match at home against Serbia 2-1. At the same time, Croatia lost at home to Scotland, allowing Belgium to take a three-point lead.

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

7 September 2012 Wales  0 – 2  Belgium Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
19:45 UTC+1 Report Kompany 42'
Vertonghen 83'		 Attendance: 20,156
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)
11 September 2012 Belgium  1 – 1  Croatia King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2 Gillet 45+1' Report Perišić 6' Attendance: 39,987
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
12 October 2012 Serbia  0 – 3  Belgium Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade
20:30 UTC+2 Report Benteke 34'
De Bruyne 68'
Mirallas 90+1'		 Attendance: 21,650
Referee: Pavel Královec (Czech Republic)
16 October 2012 Belgium  2 – 0  Scotland King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2 Benteke 68'
Kompany 71'		 Report Attendance: 44,132
Referee: Tom Harald Hagen (Norway)
22 March 2013 Macedonia  0 – 2  Belgium Philip II Arena, Skopje
20:45 UTC+1 Report De Bruyne 26'
Hazard 62' (pen.)		 Attendance: 15,947
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)
26 March 2013 Belgium  1 – 0  Macedonia King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+1 Hazard 62' Report Attendance: 44,230
Referee: Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)
7 June 2013 Belgium  2 – 1  Serbia King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2 De Bruyne 13'
Fellaini 60'		 Report Kolarov 87' Attendance: 45,844
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)

Friendlies

15 August 2012 Belgium  4 – 2  Netherlands King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 CEST Benteke 20'
Mertens 75'
Lukaku 77'
Vertonghen 80'		 Report Narsingh 54'
Huntelaar 55'		 Attendance: 46,000
Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)
14 November 2012 Romania  2 – 1  Belgium Arena Națională, Bucharest
20:00 CET Maxim 32'
Torje 66' (pen.)		 Report Benteke 23' Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Italia)
6 February 2013 Belgium  2 – 1  Slovakia Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
20:45 CET Hazard 10' (pen.)
Mertens 90'		 Report Lásik 87' Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)
30 May 2013 United States  2 – 4  Belgium FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
2:11 CET Cameron 24'
Dempsey 80' (pen.)		 Report Mirallas 8'
Benteke 57', 71'
Fellaini 65'		 Attendance: 27,720
Referee: Jeffrey Solís (Costa Rica)


Promotion and relegation

Team promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Pro League

Teams relegated from 2011–12 Belgian Pro League

Teams promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Second Division

Teams relegated from 2011-12 Belgian Second Division

League competitions

Belgian First Division

Main article: 2012–13 Belgian Pro League

Belgian Second Division

Main article: 2012–13 Belgian Second Division

Belgian Second Division final round

Main article: 2012 Belgian Second Division final round

Belgian Third Division

Belgian Third Division A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hoogstraten VV (P) 34 22 8 4 73 31 +42 74
2 KRC Mechelen (E) 34 18 10 6 55 37 +18 64
3 Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout (E, P) 34 17 10 7 65 37 +28 61
4 K. Rupel Boom FC 34 16 8 10 56 45 +11 56
5 K. Berchem Sport 2004 34 15 7 12 50 46 +4 52
6 R. Cappellen FC 34 14 9 11 57 38 +19 51
6 Torhout 1992 KM 34 14 9 11 42 37 +5 51
8 KFC Vigor Wuitens Hamme 34 12 12 10 49 44 +5 48
9 KVV Coxyde 34 12 10 12 54 42 +12 46
10 KSV Bornem 34 11 12 11 51 53 −2 45
11 KSV Temse 34 11 10 13 39 51 −12 43
12 K. Standaard Wetteren 34 10 12 12 46 56 −10 42
13 KMSK Deinze (E) 34 10 9 15 51 60 −9 39
13 K. Olsa Brakel 34 10 9 15 44 56 −12 39
15 KV Turnhout 34 9 7 18 53 66 −13 34
15 KFC Izegem 34 9 7 18 49 67 −18 34
17 KSK Ronse (R) 34 8 7 19 47 73 −26 31
18 K. Racing Waregem (R) 34 8 4 22 42 84 −42 28
Source: [citation needed]
(E) Entered promotion playoff; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Belgian Third Division B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 R. Excelsior Virton (P) 36 23 10 3 76 28 +48 79
2 K. Bocholter VV (E) 36 22 8 6 73 37 +36 74
3 K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen (E) 36 18 13 5 63 36 +27 67
4 UR La Louvière Centre 36 18 9 9 70 34 +36 63
5 RFC Huy 36 14 10 12 51 43 +8 52
5 KSC Grimbergen 36 14 10 12 58 53 +5 52
7 RFC Union La Calamine 36 14 9 13 61 52 +9 51
7 Heppignies-Lambusart-Fleurus 36 14 9 13 50 51 −1 51
9 FCV Dender EH 36 13 12 11 57 47 +10 51
9 KVK Tienen (R) 36 13 12 11 50 44 +6 51
11 RU Wallonne Ciney 36 14 8 14 52 58 −6 50
12 KV Woluwe-Zaventem (E) 36 13 8 15 52 57 −5 47
13 K. Diegem Sport 36 12 9 15 58 56 +2 45
14 RFC Tournai 36 12 7 17 46 51 −5 43
15 R. Géants Athois 36 11 10 15 54 59 −5 43
16 RCS Verviétois 36 9 14 13 42 54 −12 41
17 R. Union Saint-Gilloise 36 9 11 16 46 53 −7 38
18 R. Entente Bertrigeoise (R) 36 6 8 22 37 77 −40 26
19 FC Bleid-Gaume (R) 36 3 1 32 12 128 −116 10
Source: [citation needed]
(E) Entered promotion playoff; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Third division play-off

All teams marked E entered a promotion playoff.

Only Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout succeeded in being promoted to the 2013–14 Belgian Second Division.

Transfers

Main article: List of Belgian football transfers summer 2012
Main article: List of Belgian football transfers winter 2012–13

European Club results

Champions Anderlecht and runners-up Club Brugge start in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, while league numbers three and four, Genk and Gent play in the Europa League together with cup winners Lokeren.

Date Team Competition Round Leg Opponent Location Score Belgian Team Goalscorers
19 July 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 2 Leg 1, Away Luxembourg Differdange Stade du Thillenberg, Differdange 0-1 Arzo
26 July 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 2 Leg 2, Home Luxembourg Differdange Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent 3-2 Melli, Conté, Kola
1 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Home Lithuania Ekranas Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 5-0 De Sutter, Kanu, Mbokani (2), Jovanović
1 August 2012 Club Brugge Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Away Denmark Copenhagen Parken Stadium, Copenhagen 0-0
2 August 2012 Genk Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Home Kazakhstan Aktobe Cristal Arena, Genk 2-1 Vossen, Joseph-Monrose
2 August 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Away Hungary Videoton Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár 1-0
8 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Away Lithuania Ekranas Aukštaitija Stadium, Panevėžys 0-6 Kljestan, Praet, Iakovenko, De Sutter, Molins, Canesin
8 August 2012 Club Brugge Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Home Denmark Copenhagen Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 2-3 Figueras, Odjidja
9 August 2012 Genk Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Away Kazakhstan Aktobe Aktobe Central Stadium, Aktobe 1-2 Benteke, Buffel
9 August 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Home Hungary Videoton Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent 0-3
21/22 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Play-off Round Leg 1, Away Cyprus AEL Limassol Tsirion Stadium, Limassol 2-1 Mbokani
23 August 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Play-off Round Leg 1, Away Hungary Debrecen Stadion Oláh Gábor Út, Debrecen 0-3 Blondel, Refaelov, Bacca
23 August 2012 Genk Europa League Play-off Round Leg 1, Away Switzerland Luzern Swissporarena, Lucerne 2-1 Vossen
23 August 2012 Lokeren Europa League Play-off Round Leg 1, Home Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels 2-1 Harbaoui, Mij. Marić
28 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Play-off Round Leg 2, Home Cyprus AEL Limassol Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 2-0 Mbokani, Iakovenko
30 August 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Play-off Round Leg 2, Home Hungary Debrecen Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 4-1 Larsen, Vázquez, Tchité, Bacca
30 August 2012 Genk Europa League Play-off Round Leg 2, Home Switzerland Luzern Cristal Arena, Genk 2-0 Fernández, Masika
30 August 2012 Lokeren Europa League Play-off Round Leg 2, Away Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň Stadion města Plzně, Plzeň 1-0
18 September 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away Italy AC Milan San Siro, Milan 0-0
20 September 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away France Bordeaux Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux 4-0
20 September 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Home Hungary Videoton Cristal Arena, Genk 3-0 Vossen, Buffel, De Ceulaer
3 October 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home Spain Málaga Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 0-3
4 October 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home Portugal Marítimo Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 2-0 Bacca, Vleminckx
4 October 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Away Switzerland Basel St. Jakob-Park, Basel 2-2 De Ceulaer, Vossen
24 October 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 3, Away Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg 0-1
25 October 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Away England Newcastle United St James' Park, Newcastle 0-1
25 October 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Home Portugal Sporting CP Cristal Arena, Genk 2-0 De Ceulaer, Barda
6 November 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 4, Home Russia Zenit Saint Petersburg Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 1-0 Mbokani
8 November 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Home England Newcastle United Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 2-2 Tričkovski, Jørgensen
8 November 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Away Portugal Sporting CP Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon 1-1 Plet
21 November 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home Italy AC Milan Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 1-3 De Sutter
22 November 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home France Bordeaux Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 1-2 Lestienne
22 November 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Away Hungary Videoton Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár 1-0 Barda
4 December 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away Spain Málaga La Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga 2-2 Jovanović, Mbokani
6 December 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away Portugal Marítimo Estádio dos Barreiros, Funchal 2-1 Refaelov
6 December 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Home Switzerland Basel Cristal Arena, Genk 0-0
14 February 2013 Genk Europa League Round of 32 Leg 1, Away Germany Stuttgart Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart 1-1 Plet
21 February 2013 Genk Europa League Round of 32 Leg 2, Home Germany Stuttgart Cristal Arena, Genk 0-2

Other honours

Competition Winner
Cup Genk
Supercup Anderlecht
Third division A Hoogstraten
Third division B Virton
Promotion A Gent-Zeehaven
Promotion B Londerzeel
Promotion C Oosterzonen Oosterwijk
Promotion D Sprimont-Comblain

European qualification for 2013-14 summary

Competition Qualifiers Reason for Qualification
UEFA Champions League Group Stage Anderlecht 1st in Jupiler League
UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round for Non-Champions Zulte Waregem 2nd in Jupiler League
UEFA Europa League Play-off Round Genk Cup winner
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round Club Brugge 3rd in Jupiler League
UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round Standard Liège Europa League Playoff winner

See also

References