2023–24 Royal Antwerp F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is Royal Antwerp Sporting Club's 144th season in existence and seventh consecutive in the Belgian Pro League. They are also competing in the Belgian Cup, the Belgian Super Cup as well as the UEFA Champions League, which they'll compete in for the first time.

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)

Players

First-team squad

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

Out on loan

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  GER Christopher Scott (at Hannover 96)
50 DF  KOS Laurit Krasniqi (at Roda JC Kerkrade)
80 MF  BEL Pierre Dwomoh (at RWDM)

Transfers

In

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

Out

Pos. Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
FW Arbnor Muja Samsunspor Undisclosed 9 February 2024
FW Michael Frey Queens Park Rangers Undisclosed 28 January 2024
MF Arthur Vermeeren Atlético Madrid Undisclosed 26 January 2024
DF Sam Vines Colorado Rapids Undisclosed 22 January 2024
GK Ortwin De Wolf Zulte Waregem Undisclosed 9 January 2024
MF Birger Verstraete Aris Thessaloniki Undisclosed 11 September 2023
MF Frank Boya Amiens SC € 3,000,000 1 September 2023
DF Gastón Ávila AFC Ajax € 12,500,000 22 August 2023
FW Viktor Fischer Contract terminated 30 June 2023
DF Willian Pacho Eintracht Frankfurt € 9,000,000
MF Alexis De Sart RWDM € 500,000
FW Koji Miyoshi Birmingham City End of contract
MF Pieter Gerkens AA Gent
MF Faris Haroun Retired
Notes

    Pre-season and friendlies

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

    Competitions

    Overall record

    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

    League table

    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[lower-alpha 1]
    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 will qualify for the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League if not earning 2024–25 UEFA Champions League in the play-off.

    Results summary

    OverallHomeAway
    PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
    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:

    Results by round

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

    Matches

    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)
    • Janssen  45+2'
    • Van den Bosch  54'
    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

    Results summary

    OverallHomeAway
    PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
    10 2 0 8 7 18  −11 6 1 0 4 5 9  −4 1 0 4 2 9  −7

    Results by round

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

    Matches

    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

    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

    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

    Play-off round

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

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

    Group stage

    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 Barcelona 6 4 0 2 12 6 +6 12[lower-alpha 1] Advance to knockout phase 2–1 2–1 5–0
    2 Porto 6 4 0 2 15 8 +7 12[lower-alpha 1] 0–1 5–3 2–0
    3 Shakhtar Donetsk 6 3 0 3 10 12 2 9 Transfer to Europa League 1–0 1–3 1–0
    4 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. Head-to-head points: Barcelona 6, Porto 0.
    19 September 2023 1 Barcelona 5–0 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 2–3 Shakhtar Donetsk Antwerp
    18:45 CEST (UTC+2)
    Report
    Stadium: Bosuilstadion
    Attendance: 13,509
    Referee: Rade Obrenovič (Slovenia)
    25 October 2023 3 Antwerp 1–4 Porto Antwerp
    21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
    Stadium: Bosuilstadion
    Attendance: 13,651
    Referee: Benoît Bastien (France)
    7 November 2023 4 Porto 2–0 Antwerp Porto
    21:00 CET (UTC+1)
    Stadium: Estádio do Dragão
    Attendance: 44,830
    Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
    28 November 2023 5 Shakhtar Donetsk 1–0 Antwerp Hamburg (Germany)[6]
    18:45 CET (UTC+1)
    Report
    Stadium: Volksparkstadion
    Attendance: 47,209
    Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Poland)
    13 December 2023 6 Antwerp 3–2 Barcelona Antwerp
    21:00 CET (UTC+1)
    Report
    Stadium: Bosuilstadion
    Attendance: 13,550[7]
    Referee: Marco Guida (Italy)

    Statistics

    Goalscorers

    As of 26 May 2024
    Rank No. Pos Nat Name Belgian Pro League Belgian Cup Champions League Super Cup Total
    1 18 FW Vincent Janssen 11 4 2 0 17
    2 9 FW George Ilenikhena 8 5 1 0 14
    3 10 FW Michel-Ange Balikwisha 7 0 2 1 10
    4 11 FW Arbnor Muja 5 0 1 0 6
    5 17 FW Jacob Ondrejka 5 0 0 0 5
    19 FW Chidera Ejuke 4 1 0 0
    24 MF Jurgen Ekkelenkamp 5 0 0 0
    8 7 FW Gyrano Kerk 3 0 1 0 4
    23 DF Toby Alderweireld 3 1 0 0
    10 84 MF Mahamadou Doumbia 2 1 0 0 3
    11 33 DF Zeno Van den Bosch 0 2 0 0 2
    48 MF Arthur Vermeeren 1 0 1 0
    13 2 DF Ritchie De Laet 0 1 0 0 1
    5 DF Owen Wijndal 1 0 0 0
    6 MF Eliot Matazo 1 0 0 0
    8 MF Alhassan Yusuf 0 0 1 0
    21 DF Sam Vines 1 0 0 0
    34 DF Jelle Bataille 1 0 0 0
    52 DF Kobe Corbanie 1 0 0 0
    Own goals31004
    Totals 62 16 9 1 88

    References

    1. "Antwerp sign former Leeds and Everton target Senne Lammens from Club Brugge on a free". OneFootball. June 10, 2023.
    2. "Lierse oefent tegen landskampioen Antwerp en Qatarese Al-Rayyan". Gazet van Antwerpen. June 7, 2023.
    3. "Bondsreglement Titel 7: Competities" [Association Rules Title 7: Competitions] (PDF). Royal Belgian Football Association. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2024.
    4. "Pro League: Union-Anderlecht en ouverture du championnat, le duel Hoefkens-Deila lors de la 10e journée, le calendrier 2023–2024 dévoilé". 27 June 2023.
    5. Stafford-Bloor, Sebastian (18 August 2023). "Shakhtar Donetsk to play home Champions League games at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion". The Athletic. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
    6. "Antwerp vs. Barcelona" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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