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: K. Heusden-Zolder R. Antwerp F.C.

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

Results

Top goal scorers ScorerGoalsTeam Luigi Pieroni28Mouscron Émile Mpenza21Standard Liège Tosin Dosunmu16Westerlo Aruna Dindane15Anderlecht Gert Verheyen15Club Brugge Andrés Mendoza14Club Brugge Cédric Roussel14Racing Genk

Attendances

No. Club Average attendance Change Highest 1 Anderlecht 24,160 2,1% 26,311 2 Club Brugge 23,716 13,1% 27,900 3 Genk 23,627 -0,9% 25,061 4 Standard de Liège 16,888 14,5% 26,000 5 Charleroi 9,083 -9,0% 17,000 6 Gent 8,355 -4,3% 10,500 7 Mouscron 7,711 -5,8% 10,654 8 STVV 7,665 -3,1% 11,000 9 Germinal Beerschot 7,429 -1,8% 11,000 10 Lierse 7,253 -12,2% 11,250 11 Antwerp 6,735 -6,1% 13,000 12 Sporting Lokeren 5,570 -10,4% 7,000 13 Westerlo 5,282 -6,0% 10,000 14 Heusden-Zolder 5,105 153,9% 9,270 15 Cercle Brugge 5,103 103,6% 13,550 16 Beveren 4,941 9,4% 8,000 17 RAEC 4,582 -25,5% 7,000 18 RAAL 4,300 -17,0% 7,000 Source:

See also 2003–04 in Belgian football

References

Sport.be website - Archive