This was a pretty goal-crazy gamewereld. Every single game got at least 3 goals and there were a few goalfests: 3-0, 2-2, 3-0, 4-4, 2-1, 3-2, 4-0, 5-2. In total 37 goals in 8 games so far, joint-most per game since 2010.

So I got curious, is this a trend for this season? And how does it compare with previous ones. So it turns out that at 3.19 goals per game in average, this is the “goaliest” season in 23 years (2002/03). The chart plots JPL goals per game for the last 50 seasons.

What do you guys think? Has there been a shift in how JPL teams play, or just a temporary spike that will go back to normal? Maybe also some no playoff effect? Teams like Brugge, Ghent, Union going all in at the start of the season?

Your weekly reminder: all fixtures of matchday 9 have summaries on belgoals.be

Crazy matchday, with more than half of the fixtures evolving in "interesting" ways: Antwerp - Charleroi, Westerlo - Beveren, OHL - Lommel, Gent - Anderlecht, Union - Cercle

Have fun watching!

(Buiten anderlecht en Zulte)

Sporting Hasselt did not play.

Royal Francs Borains - FCV Dender EH, and RSCA Futures - K. Lierse S.K. were postponed due to a storm. These games will both be played on Wednesday the 4th of November at 20:00h.

They are the first Belgian club ever created (matricule 1), from the biggest municipality in Belgium by population, and located in a very wealthy economic area. But the results are meager: only 5-time champions, with a complete void between 1957 and 2023. 4 Belgian cups and only one super cup. Normally, they should be at the top of the hierarchy every single season.

The contrast is striking when you look at Club Brugge: a much smaller city, but a club that managed to structure itself professionally in the 80s and 90s to dominate the country. Antwerp, on the other hand, didn't just stagnate mid-table. They actually spent 13 long years (2004-2017) in the purgatory of the second division due to disastrous management.

And that's the whole paradox of the Bosuil: despite this sporting desert of over 60 years, they have always kept one of the most passionate, largest, and most loyal fanbases in the country.

With such huge assets (fans, population pool, history, local wealth), how do you explain such a waste for so long? I'd like to hear your opinion on why that is.

https://www.hln.be/ieper/met-zijn-klaroen-liet-hij-een-volle-tribune-allez-de-blauwe-meezingen-clubfan-en-spoedarts-nick-devreker-51-verliest-strijd-tegen-hersentumor~ace33c85/

RIP held. Niets mooier dan na een doelpunt plots uit het niets zijn trompet te horen en het hele stadion dat meedoet.

Friday (postponed):

20h00: Royal Francs Borains - F.C.V. Dender EH

20h00: RSCA Futures - K. Lierse S.K.

Saturday:

16h00: Jong Genk - Club NXT

16h00: RFC Seraing - R.E. Virton

20h00: K.S.C. Lokeren - Jong KAA Gent

Sunday:

16h00: KAS Eupen - K. Beerschot V.A.

19h15: RFC Liège - Patro Eisden

No Match: Sporting Hasselt

Friday

20:45 KV Kortrijk - KV Mechelen

Saturday

16:00 Royal Antwerp - RSC Charleroi

18:15 OH Leuven - Lommel SK

20:45 KVC Westerlo - SK Beveren

20:45 RAAL La Louvière - Zulte Waregem

Sunday

13:30 KRC Genk - Standard de Liège

16:00 Club Brugge KV - STVV

18:30 KAA Gent - RSC Anderlecht

19:15 Union Saint-Gilloise - Cercle Brugge KSV

If we take into account the history, the hatred, the sporting aspect, and everything else, what is THE rivalry in Belgium?

Effe een kleine rant. Waarom moeten wij (de STVV supporter) daar GVD weer de dupe van zijn? We spelen es Europees.

De enigste uitmatch dat ik kon gaan kijken. Vliegtuig en verblijf geboekt en dan dit?!

Fuck you UEFA!

Stop met collectieve straffen uit te delen!!!

Er bestaan toch genoeg alternatieven zou ik denken. - Straf de echte daders. - Laat de wedstrijd op stayen doorgaan. - Sluit de betreffende vakken

Toch genoeg mogelijkheden zou ik denken?

Wednesday

Champions League:

21:00 Club Brugge vs RC Lens

Thursday

Europa League:

18:45 Union SG vs Hapoel Beer Sheeva

21:00 Jagiellonia Białystok vs Anderlecht

Conference League:

21:00 Sporting Braga vs KAA Gent

21:00 FC Midtjylland vs STVV

Geen enkele vermelding over de Defour tifo van Standard waar deze mij direct aan deed denken, en die toch nog een pak erger is.