40 games
And Brandon Mechele tops another list this season. Club's stronghold in the heart of defense featured in every single league match this season, totalling 40 league matches, completing more than 99% of all playing time. Hans Vanaken (38 matches) and Maxim De Cuyper (37 matches) join Brandon in the top three.
1. Brandon Mechele: 40 matches
2. Hans Vanaken: 38 matches
3. Maxim De Cuyper: 37 matches
4. Hugo Vetlesen: 37 matches
5. Ferran Jutglà: 35 matches
6. Igor Thiago: 34 matches
7. Andreas Skov Olsen: 33 matches
8. Simon Mignolet: 32 matches
9. Casper Nielsen: 32 matches
10. Raphael Onyedika: 30 matches
11. Antonio Nusa: 30 matches
12. Philip Zinckernagel: 29 matches
13. Jorne Spileers: 29 matches
14. Michał Skóraś: 28 matches
15. Bjorn Meijer: 27 matches
16. Denis Odoi: 24 matches
17. Kyriani Sabbe: 21 matches
18. Éder Balanta: 21 matches
19. Joel Ordóñez: 19 matches
20. Tajon Buchanan: 12 matches
21. Nordin Jackers: 9 matches
22. Dedryck Boyata: 5 matches
23. Víctor Barberá: 4 matches
24. Chemsdine Talbi: 3 matches
25. Roman Yaremchuk: 3 matches
26. Mats Rits: 2 matches
27. Shion Homma: 2 matches
28. Romeo Vermant: 1 match
29. Bi Abdoul Kader Yameogo: 1 match
83 goals
In 40 encounters, Club made its way to the score line 83 times, averaging more than two goals per match. Top scorer Igor Thiago had the largest share (21, 18 goals and 3 assists). Skov Olsen (14 goals and 4 assists), Jutglà (8 goals and 6 assists), De Cuyper (3 goals and 10 assists), Zinckernagel (7 goals and 6 assists) and Vanaken (5 goals and 7 assists) also reached double figures.
Unbowed in the play-offs
FCB needed a good run in these Champions' Play-Offs to still have a claim to the title. A draw on Match day 1 against Cercle brought Club up to speed and after that it won six consecutive games. The home Union game ended in a draw on Match day 8, and on the penultimate matchday we recorded a crucial win in and against Anderlecht. Against Cercle, Club bowed out of these impressive playoffs with a draw. The final balance stands at 24/30. The draw also means a continuation of an unbeaten run; including last year's final Play-Off match, the newly crowned national champions are now unbeaten for 11 PO I matches on a spin. No team ever managed to do so.
It is also only the second time in club history that the team has gone through the playoffs undefeated. The previous time was in the championship year under Alfred Schreuder in 2022, when the playoffs were played with four teams.
New format in the Champions League
The title also comoes with an eleventh Champions League campaign. That Champions League has been completely revamped, though.
No more group stages, and we go from 32 to 36 teams. Club will not end up in a group like in previous editions, but will be drawn against 8 unique opponents. Of those 8, 4 encounters will be played at Jan Breydel, the other 4 will be played away from home. This phase is now called the 'league stage'.
The results of those eight games will be fit in one big ranking with all 36 teams. The top 8 advance to the Round of 16, while numbers 9 to 24 play a two leg game to get to that Round of 16. Numbers 25-36 are immediately out of Europe, as there is no Europa League safety net as of the following season. Club also makes it through the European winter, as two more 'league stage' matches are scheduled after the New Year.
