2012–13 in Belgian football


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

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, Vincent Kompany, Kevin Mirallas and Jan Vertonghen, 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] [2014 [FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification]]

Friendlies

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

Belgian First Division

Belgian Second Division

Belgian Second Division Final Round

Belgian Third Division

Belgian Third Division A

Belgian Third Division B

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

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.
DateTeamCompetitionRoundLegOpponentLocationScoreBelgian Team Goalscorers
19 July 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 1, Away DifferdangeStade du Thillenberg, DifferdangeArzo
26 July 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 2, Home DifferdangeJules Ottenstadion, GhentMelli, Conté, Kola
1 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home EkranasConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtDe Sutter, Kanu, Mbokani, Jovanović
1 August 2012Club BruggeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Away CopenhagenParken Stadium, Copenhagen0-0
2 August 2012GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home AktobeCristal Arena, GenkVossen, Joseph-Monrose
2 August 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Away VideotonSóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár
8 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away EkranasAukštaitija Stadium, PanevėžysKljestan, Praet, Iakovenko, De Sutter, Molins, Canesin
8 August 2012Club BruggeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Home CopenhagenJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesFigueras, Odjidja
9 August 2012GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away AktobeAktobe Central Stadium, AktobeBenteke, Buffel
9 August 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Home VideotonJules Ottenstadion, Ghent
21/22 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away AEL LimassolTsirion Stadium, LimassolMbokani
23 August 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away DebrecenStadion Oláh Gábor Út, DebrecenBlondel, Refaelov, Bacca
23 August 2012GenkEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away LuzernSwissporarena, LucerneVossen
23 August 2012LokerenEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Home Viktoria PlzeňKing Baudouin Stadium, BrusselsHarbaoui, Mij. Marić
28 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home AEL LimassolConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtMbokani, Iakovenko
30 August 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home DebrecenJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesLarsen, Vázquez, Tchité, Bacca
30 August 2012GenkEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home LuzernCristal Arena, GenkFernández, Masika
30 August 2012LokerenEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Away Viktoria PlzeňStadion města Plzně, Plzeň
18 September 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away AC MilanSan Siro, Milan0-0
20 September 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away BordeauxStade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
20 September 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home VideotonCristal Arena, GenkVossen, Buffel, De Ceulaer
3 October 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home MálagaConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht
4 October 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home MarítimoJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesBacca, Vleminckx
4 October 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away BaselSt. Jakob-Park, Basel2-2De Ceulaer, Vossen
24 October 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away Zenit Saint PetersburgPetrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg
25 October 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away Newcastle UnitedSt James' Park, Newcastle
25 October 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home Sporting CPCristal Arena, GenkDe Ceulaer, Barda
6 November 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home Zenit Saint PetersburgConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtMbokani
8 November 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home Newcastle UnitedJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges2-2Tričkovski, Jørgensen
8 November 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away Sporting CPEstádio José Alvalade, Lisbon1-1Plet
21 November 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home AC MilanConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtDe Sutter
22 November 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home BordeauxJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesLestienne
22 November 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away VideotonSóstói Stadion, SzékesfehérvárBarda
4 December 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away MálagaLa Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga2-2Jovanović, Mbokani
6 December 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away MarítimoEstádio dos Barreiros, FunchalRefaelov
6 December 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home BaselCristal Arena, Genk0-0
14 February 2013GenkEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Away StuttgartMercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart1-1Plet
21 February 2013GenkEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Home StuttgartCristal Arena, Genk

Other honours

European qualification for 2013-14 summary