2023–24 Royal Antwerp F.C. season

Royal Antwerp F.C.
2023–24 season
ManagerMark van Bommel
StadiumBosuilstadion
Pro League6th
Belgian CupRunners-up
Belgian Super CupWinners
UEFA Champions LeagueGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Vincent Janssen (11)

All:
Vincent Janssen (17)

The 2023–24 season was Royal Antwerp Sporting Club's 144th season in existence and seventh consecutive in the Belgian Pro League. They also competed in the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup, as well as the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Players

[edit]

First-team squad

[edit]
As of 9 February 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK France FRA Jean Butez
2 DF Belgium BEL Ritchie De Laet
3 DF Belgium BEL Björn Engels
5 DF Netherlands NED Owen Wijndal (on loan from AFC Ajax)
6 MF Belgium BEL Eliot Matazo (on loan from AS Monaco)
7 FW Suriname SUR Gyrano Kerk (on loan from Lokomotiv Moscow)
8 MF Nigeria NGA Alhassan Yusuf
9 FW Nigeria NGA George Ilenikhena
10 FW Belgium BEL Michel-Ange Balikwisha
17 FW Sweden SWE Jacob Ondrejka
18 FW Netherlands NED Vincent Janssen
19 FW Nigeria NGA Chidera Ejuke (on loan from CSKA Moscow)
23 DF Belgium BEL Toby Alderweireld (captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 MF Netherlands NED Jurgen Ekkelenkamp
27 MF Belgium BEL Mandela Keita (on loan from OH Leuven)
33 DF Belgium BEL Zeno Van Den Bosch
34 DF Belgium BEL Jelle Bataille
44 DF France FRA Soumaïla Coulibaly (on loan from Borussia Dortmund)
46 MF Belgium BEL Milan Smits
55 FW Ecuador ECU Anthony Valencia
84 MF Mali MLI Mahamadou Doumbia
87 GK Belgium BEL Davino Verhulst
91 GK Belgium BEL Senne Lammens
MF Niger NIG Moustapha Amadou Sabo (on loan from Hammarby IF)
DF Belgium BEL Dorian Dessoleil

Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 MF Germany GER Christopher Scott (at Hannover 96)
50 DF Kosovo KOS Laurit Krasniqi (at Roda JC Kerkrade)
80 MF Belgium BEL Pierre Dwomoh (at RWDM)

Transfers

[edit]

In

[edit]
Pos. Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
MF Belgium Eliot Matazo France AS Monaco On loan 1 February 2024
MF Mali Mahamadou Doumbia Mali JMG Academy Bamako Undisclosed 6 September 2023
DF Netherlands Owen Wijndal Netherlands AFC Ajax On loan 5 September 2023
DF Niger Mamane Moustapha Amadou Sabo Sweden Hammarby IF On loan 24 August 2023
DF France Soumaïla Coulibaly Germany Borussia Dortmund On loan 11 August 2023
MF Belgium Mandela Keita Belgium OH Leuven On loan 10 August 2023
FW Nigeria Chidera Ejuke Russia CSKA Moscow On loan 30 July 2023
FW Suriname Gyrano Kerk Russia FC Lokomotiv Moscow On loan 5 July 2023
FW Nigeria George Ilenikhena France Amiens € 6,000,000 1 July 2023
GK Belgium Senne Lammens Belgium Club Brugge Free 1 July 2023 [1]
FW Sweden Jacob Ondrejka Sweden Elfsborg € 1,700,000 1 July 2023 [2]

Out

[edit]
Pos. Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
FW Kosovo Arbnor Muja Turkey Samsunspor € 2,000,000 9 February 2024
FW Switzerland Michael Frey England Queens Park Rangers Undisclosed 28 January 2024
MF Belgium Arthur Vermeeren Spain Atlético Madrid € 18,000,000 26 January 2024
DF United States Sam Vines United States Colorado Rapids Undisclosed 22 January 2024
GK Belgium Ortwin De Wolf Belgium Zulte Waregem € 300,000 9 January 2024
MF Belgium Birger Verstraete Greece Aris Thessaloniki Undisclosed 11 September 2023
MF Cameroon Frank Boya France Amiens SC € 3,000,000 1 September 2023
DF Argentina Gastón Ávila Netherlands AFC Ajax € 12,500,000 22 August 2023
FW Denmark Viktor Fischer Contract terminated 30 June 2023
DF Ecuador Willian Pacho Germany Eintracht Frankfurt € 13,650,000
MF Belgium Alexis De Sart Belgium RWDM € 500,000
FW Japan Koji Miyoshi England Birmingham City End of contract
MF Belgium Pieter Gerkens Belgium AA Gent
MF Belgium Faris Haroun Retired
Notes

Pre-season and friendlies

[edit]

The team will start preparations with a test match versus second-tier side Lierse on 1 July behind closed doors.[3]

1 July 2023 Friendly Antwerp Belgium 1–1 Belgium Lierse Kempenzonen Antwerp, Belgium
11:30
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 0
8 July 2023 Friendly Antwerp Belgium 0–3 Greece AEK Athens Antwerp, Belgium
13:45
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 0
Note: Four periods of 30 minutes.
16 July 2023 Friendly Antwerp Belgium 1–0 Germany Hertha BSC Saalfelden (Austria)
Stadium: 1508 Saalfelden Arena
Attendance: 0
9 October 2023 Friendly Antwerp Belgium 1–1 Belgium Sint-Truiden
13:00 CEST (UTC+2)

Competitions

[edit]

Overall record

[edit]
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Belgian Pro League Regular season 28 July 2023 26 May 2024 Matchday 1 30 14 10 6 55 27 +28 046.67
Champions' Play-offs 30 March 2024 26 May 2024 Matchday 1 8 1 0 7 4 16 −12 012.50
Belgian Cup 1 November 2023 9 May 2024 Seventh round Runner-up 6 4 1 1 16 7 +9 066.67
Belgian Super Cup 23 July 2023 Winners 1 0 1 0 1 1 +0 000.00
UEFA Champions League 22 August 2023 13 December 2023 Play-off round 8 3 0 5 9 18 −9 037.50
Total 53 22 12 19 85 69 +16 041.51

Last updated: 12 May 2024
Source: Soccerway

Belgian Pro League

[edit]

League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Union SG 30 21 7 2 63 31 +32 70 Qualification for the Europa League and champions' play-offs[a]
2 Anderlecht 30 18 9 3 58 30 +28 63 Qualification for the champions' play-offs
3 Antwerp 30 14 10 6 55 27 +28 52
4 Club Brugge 30 14 9 7 62 29 +33 51
5 Cercle Brugge 30 14 5 11 44 34 +10 47
Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.[4]
Notes:
  1. ^ The regular season winner qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League if not earning 2024–25 UEFA Champions League in the play-off.

Results summary

[edit]
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
30 14 10 6 55 27  +28 52 9 6 1 34 10  +24 5 4 5 21 17  +4

Last updated: 17 March 2024.
Source: [citation needed]

Results by round

[edit]
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundHAHAHAAHAHAAHHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAH
ResultWLWDDDWDDWLLWWDWWDDLWLWWWLDWWD
Position484558565467655444566654444443
Updated to match(es) played on 17 March 2024. Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

[edit]

The league fixtures were announced on 22 June 2023.[5]

30 July 2023 1 Antwerp 1–0 Cercle Brugge Antwerp
13:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,277
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
6 August 2023 2 Anderlecht 1–0 Antwerp Anderlecht
13:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Lotto Park
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
11 August 2023 3 Antwerp 6–0 Kortrijk Antwerp
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 15,447
Referee: Jan Boterberg
18 August 2023 4 OH Leuven 1–1 Antwerp Leuven
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Den Dreef
Attendance: 6,595
Referee: Lawrence Visser
3 September 2023 6 Union SG 2–2 Antwerp Saint-Gilles
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Joseph Marien Stadium
Attendance: 6,890
Referee: Jan Boterberg
15 September 2023 7 Westerlo 0–3 Antwerp Westerlo
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Het Kuipje
Attendance: 7,300
Referee: Lothar D'hondt
23 September 2023 8 Antwerp 0–0 RWD Molenbeek Antwerp
20:45 CEST (UTC+2) Report Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,682
Referee: Wim Smet
27 September 2023 5 Antwerp 0–0 Gent Antwerp
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 13,077
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
Note: The match scheduled for 26 August 2023 was postponed due to the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
30 September 2023 9 KV Mechelen 0–0 Antwerp Mechelen
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Achter de Kazerne
Attendance: 14,963
Referee: Jan Boterberg
8 October 2023 10 Antwerp 4–1 Eupen Antwerp
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,100
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
21 October 2023 11 Charleroi 3–2 Antwerp Charleroi
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Stade du Pays de Charleroi
Attendance: 7,700
Referee: Wesli De Cremer
29 October 2023 12 Club Brugge 2–1 Antwerp Bruges
13:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 23,724
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
4 November 2023 13 Antwerp 3–2 Genk Antwerp
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 16,071
Referee: Lothar D'hondt
11 November 2023 14 Antwerp 6–0 Standard Liège Antwerp
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
24 November 2023 15 STVV 1–1 Antwerp Sint-Truiden
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Stayen
Attendance: 7,024
Referee: Bert Put
2 December 2023 16 Antwerp 1–0 OH Leuven Antwerp
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Brent Staessens
9 December 2023 17 Cercle Brugge 1–3 Antwerp Bruges
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 4,178
Referee: Nathan Verboomen
17 December 2023 18 Antwerp 1–1 Anderlecht Antwerp
18:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
23 December 2023 19 Antwerp 2–2 Westerlo Antwerp
18:15 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,765
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
26 December 2023 20 Genk 3–0 Antwerp Genk
13:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Cegeka Arena
Attendance: 20,567
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
21 January 2024 21 Antwerp 4–1 Charleroi Antwerp
13:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
28 January 2024 22 Eupen 1–0 Antwerp Eupen
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Kehrwegstadion
Attendance: 3,146
Referee: Wesli De Cremer
31 January 2024 23 Standard Liège 0–1 Antwerp Liège
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Attendance: 18,123
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
4 February 2024 24 Antwerp 2–1 Club Brugge Antwerp
13:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
11 February 2024 25 RWD Molenbeek 0–4 Antwerp Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
13:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Edmond Machtens Stadium
Attendance: 6,248
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
17 February 2024 26 Antwerp 0–1 KV Mechelen Antwerp
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Wesli De Cremer
25 February 2024 27 Gent 2–2 Antwerp Ghent
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Ghelamco Arena
Attendance: 17,263
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
3 March 2024 28 Antwerp 3–0 STVV Antwerp
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 15,500
Referee: Kevin Van Damme
9 March 2024 29 Kortrijk 0–1 Antwerp Kortrijk
16:00 CET (UTC+1) Stadium: Guldensporen Stadion
Attendance: 8,062
Referee: Bert Put
17 March 2024 30 Antwerp 1–1 Union SG Antwerp
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Bram Van Driessche

Champions' Play-Off

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation CLU USG AND CER GNK ANT
1 Club Brugge (C) 10 7 3 0 21 6 +15 50 Qualification for the Champions League league stage 2–2 3–1 0–0 4–0 3–0
2 Union SG 10 4 2 4 17 12 +5 49 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round 1–2 0–0 2–3 2–0 4–1
3 Anderlecht 10 4 2 4 12 12 0 46 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round 0–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 1–0
4 Cercle Brugge 10 3 4 3 13 13 0 37 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[a] 1–1 1–2 1–1 4–1 0–1
5 Genk 10 4 1 5 8 17 −9 37 Qualification for the European competition play-off 0–3 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–0
6 Antwerp 10 2 0 8 7 18 −11 32 1–2 0–3 3–1 1–2 0–1
Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Regular season finishing position.[6]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Union SG qualified for the Europa League play-off round by winning the 2023–24 Belgian Cup. The Europa League second qualifying spot and the European competition play-off spot were thus passed to the next two highest-placed teams that did not qualify for European competitions.

Results summary

[edit]
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
10 2 0 8 7 18  −11 6 1 0 4 5 9  −4 1 0 4 2 9  −7

Results by round

[edit]
Round12345678910
GroundAHAAHAHHAH
ResultLLLWLLLLLW
Position5665566666
Source: Jupiler Pro League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

[edit]
30 March 2024 1 Anderlecht 1–0 Antwerp Anderlecht
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Lotto Park
Attendance: 21,900
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
6 April 2024 2 Antwerp 0–1 Genk Antwerp
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Lothar D'hondt
14 April 2024 3 Club Brugge 3–0 Antwerp Bruges
13:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 23,000
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
21 April 2024 4 Cercle Brugge 0–1 Antwerp Bruges
13:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 10,294
Referee: Nathan Verboomen
25 April 2024 5 Antwerp 0–3 Union SG Antwerp
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
28 April 2024 6 Union SG 4–1 Antwerp Forest
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Stade Joseph Marien
Attendance: 8,203
Referee: Wesli De Cremer
5 May 2024 7 Antwerp 1–2 Club Brugge Antwerp
13:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
12 May 2024 8 Antwerp 1–2 Cercle Brugge Antwerp
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 9,925
Referee: Bert Put
20 May 2024 9 Genk 1–0 Antwerp Genk
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Cegeka Arena
Attendance: 19,419
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
26 May 2024 10 Antwerp 3–1 Anderlecht Antwerp
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 16,500
Referee: Bram Van Driessche

Belgian Cup

[edit]
1 November 2023 Seventh round Lierse Kempenzonen 1–4 Antwerp Lier
15:45 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Herman Vanderpoortenstadion
Attendance: 9,200
Referee: Laurent Willems
6 December 2023 Eighth round Antwerp 5–2 Charleroi Antwerp
20:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: Jan Boterberg
24 January 2024 Quarter-finals OH Leuven 2–3 Antwerp Leuven
20:30 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Den Dreef
Attendance: 5,888
Referee: Bert Put
8 February 2024 Semi-final 1st leg Oostende 1–1 Antwerp Ostend
20:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Diaz Arena
Referee: Nathan Verboomen
29 February 2024 Semi-final 2nd leg Antwerp 3–0
(4–1 agg.)
Oostende Antwerp
20:45 CET (UTC+1)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
9 May 2024 Final Union SG 1–0 Antwerp Brussels
15:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: King Baudouin Stadium
Attendance: 47,000
Referee: Erik Lambrechts

Belgian Super Cup

[edit]
23 July 2023 Match Antwerp 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Mechelen Antwerp
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Penalties

UEFA Champions League

[edit]

Play-off round

[edit]

The draw for the play-off round was held on 7 August 2023.

22 August 2023 First leg Antwerp Belgium 1–0 Greece AEK Athens Antwerp
21:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 13,376
Referee: François Letexier (France)
30 August 2023 First leg AEK Athens Greece 1–2
(1–3 agg.)
Belgium Antwerp Athens
21:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Agia Sophia Stadium
Attendance: 29,300
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain)

Group stage

[edit]

The draw for the group stage was held on 31 August 2023.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BAR POR SHK ANT
1 Spain Barcelona 6 4 0 2 12 6 +6 12[a] Advance to knockout phase 2–1 2–1 5–0
2 Portugal Porto 6 4 0 2 15 8 +7 12[a] 0–1 5–3 2–0
3 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 6 3 0 3 10 12 −2 9 Transfer to Europa League 1–0 1–3 1–0
4 Belgium Antwerp 6 1 0 5 6 17 −11 3 3–2 1–4 2–3
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head points: Barcelona 6, Porto 0.
19 September 2023 1 Barcelona Spain 5–0 Belgium Antwerp Barcelona
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report Stadium: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Attendance: 40,989
Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania)
4 October 2023 2 Antwerp Belgium 2–3 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk Antwerp
18:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 13,509
Referee: Rade Obrenovič (Slovenia)
25 October 2023 3 Antwerp Belgium 1–4 Portugal Porto Antwerp
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 13,651
Referee: Benoît Bastien (France)
7 November 2023 4 Porto Portugal 2–0 Belgium Antwerp Porto
21:00 CET (UTC+1)