2017–18 Belgian First Division B#Opening tournament

{{Short description|Second season of the Belgian First Division B}}

{{Infobox football league season

| competition = Belgian First Division B

| season = 2017–18

| winners = Cercle Brugge

| promoted = Cercle Brugge

| relegated = Lierse

| league topscorer = Yannick Aguemon, Esteban Casagolda and Florent Stevance (10 goals each)

| matches =

| total goals =

| biggest home win = OH Leuven vs Cercle Brugge, 7–1
KVC Westerlo vs Lierse SK, 6-0

| biggest away win = Roeselare vs Beerschot Wilrijk, 0–4

| highest scoring = OH Leuven vs Cercle Brugge, 7–1

| longest wins =

| longest unbeaten =

| longest losses =

| prevseason = 2016–17

| nextseason = 2018–19

}}

The 2017–18 season of the Belgian First Division B began in August 2017 and ended in April 2018. It was the second season of the First Division B following a change in league format from the old Belgian Second Division. The fixtures were announced near the end of June 2017. Cercle Brugge won the title and promotion on 10 March 2018. Although Tubize lost the relegation play-offs and therefore would have been relegated, they were saved as Lierse went bankrupt.

Team changes

=In=

=Out=

  • Antwerp won the promotion play-offs against Roeselare and was thus promoted.
  • Lommel United was relegated after they finished last in the relegation play-offs.

Team information

=Stadiums and locations=

{{location map+|Belgium|float=right|width=500|caption=Locations of the 2017–18 Belgian First Division B teams|places=

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.1852158 |long=4.381905 |label=Beerschot Wilrijk|position=left}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.694222 |long=4.2044 |label=Tubize |position=bottom}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.083333 |long=4.916667 |label=Westerlo|position=right}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.193269 |long=3.181311 |label=Cercle Brugge |position=left}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.933333 |long=3.116667 |label=Roeselare |position=bottom}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=51.144167 |long=4.573611 |label=Lierse}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.892670 |long=4.334253 |label=Union SG |position=left}}

{{location map~|Belgium|lat=50.883333 |long=4.7 |label=OH Leuven}}

}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Matricule

! Club

! City

! First season of
current spell at
second level

! Coming from

! 2016-17 result

! Stadium

! Capacity

155

|{{sort|Beerschot|FCO Beerschot Wilrijk}}

|Antwerp

|2017–18

|Belgian First Amateur Division

|{{Hs|301}}1st (D3) Image:Arrow-up.png

|Olympic Stadium

|12,771

12

|{{sort|Cercle Brugge|Cercle Brugge K.S.V.}}

|Bruges

|2015–16

|Belgian Pro League

|{{Hs|207}}7th (D2)

|Jan Breydel Stadium

|29,945

6142

|{{sort|Leuven|Oud-Heverlee Leuven}}

|Leuven

|2016–17

|Belgian Pro League

|{{Hs|206}}6th (D2)

|Den Dreef

|10,000

30

|{{sort|Lierse|Lierse S.K.}}

|Lier

|2015–16

|Belgian Pro League

|{{Hs|201}}1st (D2)

|Herman Vanderpoortenstadion

|14,538

2024

|{{sort|Westerlo|K.V.C. Westerlo}}

|Westerlo

|2017–18

|Belgian First Division A

|{{Hs|116}}16th (D1A) Image:Arrow-down.gif

|Het Kuipje

|8,035

134

|{{sort|Roeselare|K.S.V. Roeselare}}

|Roeselare

|2010–11

|Belgian Pro League

|{{Hs|202}}2nd (D2)

|Schiervelde Stadion

|9,075

5632

|{{sort|Tubize|A.F.C. Tubize}}

|Tubize

|2009–10

|Belgian Pro League

|{{Hs|205}}5th (D2)

|Stade Leburton

|9,000

10

|{{sort|Saint-Gilles|R. Union Saint-Gilloise}}

|Saint-Gilles, Brussels

|2015–16

|Belgian Third Division

|{{Hs|204}}4th (D2)

|King Baudouin StadiumAs part of the reform, the rules for obtaining a licence were changed, with clubs now required to have a stadium with a capacity of at least 8,000. As the Stade Joseph Marien has only a capacity of six thousand, Union will play one season in the King Baudouin Stadium while their home stadium is being expanded. This ruling was extended with one additional season as the Stade Joseph Marien was not fully refurbished yet at the start of the 2017–18 season and is now expected to be finalised by June 2018.

|50,122

= Personnel and kits =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
Club

! Manager

! Captain

! Kit Manufacturer

! Sponsors

Beerschot Wilrijk

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Marc Brys

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Tom Pietermaat

| Joma

| DCA

Cercle Brugge

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Franky Vercauteren

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Benjamin Lambot

| Acerbis

| [http://www.admb.be/ ADMB]

OH Leuven

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Pearson

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Dimitri Daeseleire

| Vermarc

| King Power

Lierse

| {{flagicon|BEL}} David Colpaert

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Frédéric Frans

| Jako

| [http://www.wadidegla.com/ Wadi Degla]

Roeselare

| {{flagicon|ESP}} Jordi Condom

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Raphaël Lecomte

| Joma

| [http://www.euroshop.be/ Euro Shop]

Tubize

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Thys

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Quentin Laurent

| Kappa

| No shirt sponsor

Union SG

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Marc Grosjean

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Charles Morren

| Patrick

| [http://www.culture-formation.fr/ Culture et Formation]

Westerlo

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Bob Peeters

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Benjamin De Ceulaer

| Saller

| Soudal

=Managerial changes=

class="wikitable"
Team

! Outgoing manager

! Manner of departure

! Date of vacancy

! Position

! Replaced by

! Date of appointment

Westerlo

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Jacky Mathijssen

| Mutual consent

| 21 June 2017 {{cite news |title=Mathijssen verlaat Westerlo dan toch, T2 Pelic wordt T1 |trans-title=Mathijssen does leave Westerlo after all, assistant Pelić becomes head coach |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3006760 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-06-21|language=nl}}

| Pre-season

| {{flagicon|BIH}} Vedran Pelić

| 21 June 2017

Roeselare

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Arnauld Mercier

| Sacked

| 12 September 2017 {{cite news |title=Roeselare slachtoffert coach Arnauld Mercier na 5 speeldagen |trans-title=Roeselare sacrifices coach Arnauld Mercier after 5 matchdays |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3064703 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-09-12|language=nl}}

| 5th

| {{flagicon|NED}} Dennis van Wijk

| 28 September 2017 {{cite news |title=Van Wijk begint aan derde ambtstermijn bij Roeselare |trans-title=Van Wijk starts third term at Roeselare |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3074636 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-09-28|language=nl}}

OH Leuven

| {{flagicon|NED}} Dennis van Wijk

| Replaced

| 22 September 2017 {{cite news |title=Nigel Pearson nieuwe coach van OH Leuven |trans-title=Nigel Pearson new coach of OH Leuven |url=http://ohl.be/nl/heren/nieuws/bericht/10296/nigel-pearson-nieuwe-coach-van-oh-leuven |publisher=ohl.be |date=2017-09-22 |language=nl |access-date=2017-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095638/http://ohl.be/nl/heren/nieuws/bericht/10296/nigel-pearson-nieuwe-coach-van-oh-leuven |archive-date=2017-09-23 |url-status=dead }}

| 4th

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Pearson

| 22 September 2017

Lierse

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Frederik Vanderbiest

| Sacked

| 6 October 2017 {{cite news |title=Lierse en coach Vanderbiest zijn uit elkaar |trans-title=Lierse and coach Vanderbiest have split up |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3078259 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-10-06|language=nl}}

| 7th

| {{flagicon|BEL}} William Still

| 11 October 2017 {{cite news |title=Lierse geeft 24-jarige William Still kans als hoofdcoach |trans-title=Lierse gives 24-year old William Still a chance as head coach |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3080578 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-10-11|language=nl}}

Cercle Brugge

| {{flagicon|BEL}} José Riga

| Sacked

| 16 October 2017 {{cite news |title=José Riga krijgt de bons bij Cercle Brugge |trans-title=José Riga gets sacked at Cercle Brugge|url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3082566 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-10-16|language=nl}}

| 3rd

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Franky Vercauteren

| 16 October 2017 {{cite news |title=Vercauteren moet Cercle Brugge weer naar hoogste klasse loodsen |trans-title=Vercauteren to guide Cercle Brugge back to the highest division |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3082594 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-10-16|language=nl}}

Tubize

| {{flagicon|SEN}} Sadio Demba

| Sacked

| 13 November 2017 {{cite news |title=Nieuwe coach moet Tubeke helpen in degradatiestrijd |trans-title=New manager to help Tubeke in relegation battle|url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3096732 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-11-13|language=nl}}

| Closing tournament: 6th
Overall: 8th

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Thys

| 13 November 2017

Lierse

| {{flagicon|BEL}} William Still

| Did not possess correct UEFA diploma to remain manager

| 2 December 2017 {{cite news |title=Colpaert neemt over van Still bij Lierse: "Maar er verandert niet veel" |trans-title=Colpaert takes over form Still at Lierse: "But not much will change" |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3107550 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-10-06|language=nl}}

| Closing tournament: 1st
Overall: 3rd

| {{flagicon|BEL}} David Colpaert

| 2 December 2017

Westerlo

| {{flagicon|BIH}} Vedran Pelić

| Replaced

| 5 December 2017 {{cite news |title=Bob Peeters keert na een jaar weer terug naar Westerlo |trans-title=Bob Peeters returns to Westerlo after one year |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3109170 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2017-10-06 |language=nl }}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| Closing tournament: 8th
Overall: 7th

| {{flagicon|BEL}} Bob Peeters

| 5 December 2017

Roeselare

| {{flagicon|NED}} Dennis van Wijk

| Sacked

| 19 January 2018 {{cite news |title=Samenwerking met Dennis van Wijk stopgezet |trans-title=Cooperation with Dennis van Wijk cancelled |url=http://www.ksvroeselare.be/samenwerking-met-dennis-van-wijk-beeindigd/ |publisher=ksvroeselare.be |date=2018-01-19|language=nl}}

| Closing tournament: 7th
Overall: 5th

| {{flagicon|ESP}} Jordi Condom

| 25 January 2018 {{cite news |title=Ex-Eupen-coach Condom gaat bij Roeselare aan de slag |trans-title=Ex-Eupen-coach Condom starts working at Roeselare |url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3132747 |publisher=sporza.be |date=2018-01-25|language=nl}}

League table

=Opening tournament=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[http://www.proximus11.be/nl/proximus-league/uitslagen-klassement Belgian First Division B] {{in lang|fr|nl}}

|show_matches=true

|team1=B-W |team2=OHL |team3=CER |team4=ROE |team5=LIE |team6=USG |team7=WES |team8=TUB

|result1=TP

|res_col_header=Q

|col_TP=green1 |text_TP=Qualification to Promotion play-offs

|update=complete

|win_B-W=8 |draw_B-W=5 |loss_B-W=1 |gf_B-W=29|ga_B-W=10

|win_TUB=2 |draw_TUB=4 |loss_TUB=8 |gf_TUB=10|ga_TUB=20

|win_CER=7 |draw_CER=2 |loss_CER=5 |gf_CER=24|ga_CER=21

|win_USG=4 |draw_USG=2 |loss_USG=8 |gf_USG=16|ga_USG=18

|win_LIE=4 |draw_LIE=5 |loss_LIE=5 |gf_LIE=19|ga_LIE=26

|win_WES=2 |draw_WES=6 |loss_WES=6 |gf_WES=16|ga_WES=22

|win_ROE=6 |draw_ROE=3 |loss_ROE=5 |gf_ROE=15|ga_ROE=25

|win_OHL=7 |draw_OHL=5 |loss_OHL=2 |gf_OHL=28|ga_OHL=15

|match_B-W_CER=0–3

|match_B-W_LIE=4–0

|match_B-W_OHL=2–2

|match_B-W_ROE=5–0

|match_B-W_TUB=1–0

|match_B-W_USG=3–0

|match_B-W_WES=2–2

|match_CER_B-W=0–1

|match_CER_LIE=2–0

|match_CER_OHL=0–3

|match_CER_ROE=1–1

|match_CER_TUB=4–0

|match_CER_USG=2–0

|match_CER_WES=3–1

|match_LIE_B-W=2–2

|match_LIE_CER=3–2

|match_LIE_OHL=2–1

|match_LIE_ROE=2–2

|match_LIE_TUB=1–1

|match_LIE_USG=2–1

|match_LIE_WES=2–2

|match_OHL_B-W=1–1

|match_OHL_CER=7–1

|match_OHL_LIE=2–2

|match_OHL_ROE=2–0

|match_OHL_TUB=2–0

|match_OHL_USG=1–0

|match_OHL_WES=2–1

|match_ROE_B-W=0–4

|match_ROE_CER=2–1

|match_ROE_LIE=2–0

|match_ROE_OHL=3–1

|match_ROE_TUB=1–0

|match_ROE_USG=1–0

|match_ROE_WES=0–0

|match_TUB_B-W=0–1

|match_TUB_CER=1–1

|match_TUB_LIE=2–0

|match_TUB_OHL=1–2

|match_TUB_ROE=1–3

|match_TUB_USG=0–0

|match_TUB_WES=1–2

|match_USG_B-W=0–3

|match_USG_CER=1–2

|match_USG_LIE=3–2

|match_USG_OHL=0–0

|match_USG_ROE=4–0

|match_USG_TUB=1–2

|match_USG_WES=3–0

|match_WES_B-W=0–0

|match_WES_CER=1–2

|match_WES_LIE=0–1

|match_WES_OHL=2–2

|match_WES_ROE=4–0

|match_WES_TUB=1–1

|match_WES_USG=0–3

|name_B-W=Beerschot Wilrijk

|name_TUB=Tubize

|name_CER=Cercle Brugge

|name_USG=Union SG

|name_LIE=Lierse

|name_WES=Westerlo

|name_ROE=Roeselare

|name_OHL=OH Leuven

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.{{cite web |url=http://static.belgianfootball.be/project/publiek/reglement/reglement_nl.pdf |title=General terms Belgian competition |publisher=kbvb.be |accessdate=21 May 2017 |archive-date=17 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517031127/http://static.belgianfootball.be/project/publiek/reglement/reglement_nl.pdf |url-status=dead }}

}}

=Closing tournament=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[http://www.proximus11.be/nl/proximus-league/uitslagen-klassement Belgian First Division B] {{in lang|fr|nl}}

|show_matches=true

|team1=CER |team2=LIE |team3=OHL |team4=USG |team5=B-W |team6=WES |team7=ROE |team8=TUB

|result1=TP

|res_col_header=Q

|col_TP=green1 |text_TP=Qualification to Promotion play-offs

|update=complete

|win_B-W=4 |draw_B-W=5 |loss_B-W=5 |gf_B-W=13|ga_B-W=17

|win_TUB=2 |draw_TUB=7 |loss_TUB=5 |gf_TUB=11|ga_TUB=14

|win_CER=7 |draw_CER=6 |loss_CER=1 |gf_CER=26|ga_CER=13

|win_USG=4 |draw_USG=6 |loss_USG=4 |gf_USG=16|ga_USG=15

|win_LIE=7 |draw_LIE=1 |loss_LIE=6 |gf_LIE=16|ga_LIE=21

|win_WES=3 |draw_WES=6 |loss_WES=5 |gf_WES=15|ga_WES=13

|win_ROE=3 |draw_ROE=5 |loss_ROE=6 |gf_ROE=11|ga_ROE=18

|win_OHL=5 |draw_OHL=6 |loss_OHL=3 |gf_OHL=15|ga_OHL=12

|match_B-W_CER=2–3

|match_B-W_LIE=1–1

|match_B-W_OHL=1–2

|match_B-W_ROE=1–0

|match_B-W_TUB=1–0

|match_B-W_USG=2–1

|match_B-W_WES=0–0

|match_CER_B-W=4–0

|match_CER_LIE=4–1

|match_CER_OHL=1–0

|match_CER_ROE=1–0

|match_CER_TUB=0–0

|match_CER_USG=2–2

|match_CER_WES=1–1

|match_LIE_B-W=2–1

|match_LIE_CER=1–0

|match_LIE_OHL=0–1

|match_LIE_ROE=1–2

|match_LIE_TUB=2–1

|match_LIE_USG=1–0

|match_LIE_WES=2–0

|match_OHL_B-W=1–1

|match_OHL_CER=2–2

|match_OHL_LIE=2–1

|match_OHL_ROE=1–1

|match_OHL_TUB=1–1

|match_OHL_USG=3–1

|match_OHL_WES=0–1

|match_ROE_B-W=0–0

|match_ROE_CER=0–3

|match_ROE_LIE=1–2

|match_ROE_OHL=1–1

|match_ROE_TUB=1–2

|match_ROE_USG=1–4

|match_ROE_WES=2–1

|match_TUB_B-W=1–2 {{efn|name=fn1|The match between Tubize and Beerschot-Wilrijk of 10 December was cancelled as the pitch was not deemed suited for football following long periods of rain and some snow. The match was instead played on 10 January.{{cite web|url=https://www.proximus11.be/nl/proximus-league/nieuws/artikel/1816766/tubize-beerschot-wilrijk-afgelast-ondanks-beperkte-sneeuwlaag-in-het-stade-leburton|title=Tubize - Beerschot Wilrijk afgelast; ondanks beperkte sneeuwlaag in het Stade Leburton|trans-title=Tubize - Beerschot Wilrijk cancelled; in spite of only moderate snow at Stade Leburton|date=10 December 2017|publisher=proximus11.be|language=nl|accessdate=11 January 2018}}}}

|match_TUB_CER=1–1

|match_TUB_LIE=1–2

|match_TUB_OHL=0–1

|match_TUB_ROE=0-0

|match_TUB_USG=1–1

|match_TUB_WES=2–1

|match_USG_B-W=1-0

|match_USG_CER=1-1

|match_USG_LIE=1–0

|match_USG_OHL=0–0

|match_USG_ROE=1–2

|match_USG_TUB=1–1

|match_USG_WES=1–1

|match_WES_B-W=1–1

|match_WES_CER=2–3

|match_WES_LIE=6-0

|match_WES_OHL=1–0

|match_WES_ROE=0–0

|match_WES_TUB=0-0

|match_WES_USG=0–1

|name_B-W=Beerschot Wilrijk

|name_TUB=Tubize

|name_CER=Cercle Brugge

|name_USG=Union SG

|name_LIE=Lierse

|name_WES=Westerlo

|name_ROE=Roeselare

|name_OHL=OH Leuven

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.{{cite web |url=http://static.belgianfootball.be/project/publiek/reglement/reglement_nl.pdf |title=General terms Belgian competition |publisher=kbvb.be |accessdate=21 May 2017 |archive-date=17 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517031127/http://static.belgianfootball.be/project/publiek/reglement/reglement_nl.pdf |url-status=dead }}

}}

{{notelist}}

=Aggregate table=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|source=[http://www.proximus11.be/nl/proximus-league/uitslagen-klassement Belgian First Division B] {{in lang|fr|nl}}

|team1=CER |team2=OHL |team3=B-W |team4=LIE |team5=ROE |team6=USG |team7=WES |team8=TUB

|result1=PRP |result2=PO2 |result3=PRP |result4=PO2 |result5=PO3 |result6=PO3 |result7=PO3 |result8=PO3

|res_col_header=Q

|col_PO2=yellow1 |text_PO2=Qualification to Europa League play-offs{{Cref2|1}}

|col_PRP=green1 |text_PRP=Qualification to Promotion play-offs

|col_PO3=#FFCCCC |text_PO3=Qualification to Relegation play-offs{{Cref2|2}}

|update=complete

|win_B-W=12|draw_B-W=10|loss_B-W=6 |gf_B-W=42|ga_B-W=27

|win_TUB=4 |draw_TUB=11|loss_TUB=13|gf_TUB=21|ga_TUB=34

|win_CER=14|draw_CER=8 |loss_CER=6 |gf_CER=50|ga_CER=34

|win_USG=8 |draw_USG=8 |loss_USG=12|gf_USG=32|ga_USG=33

|win_LIE=11|draw_LIE=6 |loss_LIE=11|gf_LIE=35|ga_LIE=47

|win_WES=5 |draw_WES=12|loss_WES=11|gf_WES=31|ga_WES=35

|win_ROE=9 |draw_ROE=8 |loss_ROE=11|gf_ROE=26|ga_ROE=43

|win_OHL=12|draw_OHL=11|loss_OHL=5 |gf_OHL=43|ga_OHL=27

|name_B-W=Beerschot Wilrijk

|name_TUB=Tubize

|name_CER=Cercle Brugge

|name_USG=Union SG

|name_LIE=Lierse

|name_WES=Westerlo

|name_ROE=Roeselare

|name_OHL=OH Leuven

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.

}}

;Notes

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}

{{Cnote2|1|The team that promotes to the 2018–19 Belgian First Division A, either by winning the promotion playoff or by winning both the opening and the closing tournament, will not take part in the Europa League play-offs. The next team in the league will take its spot instead.}}

{{Cnote2|2|In case the team that wins the promotion playoff finishes in the bottom four, the 4th placed team will play the relegation playoff instead.}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

=Promotion play-offs=

The winners of the opening tournament and the closing tournament met in a two-legged match to determine the division champion, who promoted to the 2018–19 Belgian First Division A. The team finishing highest in the aggregate table was allowed to play the second leg at home. In case one team had won both the opening and the closing tournament, these matches would not have been played and that team would have been promoted automatically.

On 5 November 2017, Beerschot Wilrijk won the opening tournament and was therefore assured of playing at least the promotion play-offs. The closing tournament was won by Cercle Brugge on 17 February 2018, who played Beerschot Wilrijk for the title and promotion.

The first leg was a closed match with few chances, until Cercle Brugge goalkeeper Paul Nardi made an error in controlling the ball, allowing Euloge Placca Fessou one of the easiest goals of his career. Shortly after, Beerschot Wilrijk saw midfielder Alexander Maes sent off following a harsh tackle, resulting them in controlling the game without creating more chances. In the return match, Cercle Brugge scored twice early and looked on its way to promotion, only for Beerschot Wilrijk to come back to 2–1 just minutes before the end and gaining the advantage on away goals. In a dramatic finish, Cercle Brugge was awarded a last minute penalty kick, converted by Irvin Cardona to bring them back to the highest division where they last played during the 2014–15 season.

{{football box

|date = {{Start date|2018|3|4|df=y}}

|time = 16:00

|team1 = Beerschot Wilrijk

|score = 1–0

|report = [http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3154055 Report]

|team2 = Cercle Brugge

|goals1 = Placca Fessou {{goal|53}}
Maes {{sent off|0|62}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Olympic Stadium, Antwerp

|attendance = 11,750

|referee = Jonathan Lardot

}}

----

{{football box

|date = {{Start date|2018|3|10|df=y}}

|time = 20:00

|team1 = Cercle Brugge

|score = 3–1

|report = [http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3154057 Report]

|team2 = Beerschot Wilrijk

|goals1 = Mercier {{goal|31}}
Crysan {{goal|36}}
Cardona {{goal|90|pen.}}

|goals2 = Van Hyfte {{goal|84}}

|stadium = Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges

|attendance =

|referee = Alexandre Boucaut

}}

Cercle Brugge won 3–2 on aggregate.

=Relegation play-offs=

The four bottom teams in the aggregate table will take part in the relegation play-offs in which they keep half of the points they collected during the overall regular season (rounded up). As a result, the teams started with the following points before the playoff: Roeselare 18 points, Union SG 16, Westerlo 14 and Tubize 12 points. The points of Roeselare, Westerlo and Tubize were rounded up, therefore in case of any ties on points at the end of the playoffs, their half point would be deducted. The team finishing in last position will relegate to the 2018–19 Belgian First Amateur Division.

Following a 0-1 loss at home to Union SG on 14 April 2018, Tubize was mathematically relegated as the deficit to Union SG became six points with only two matches to go, while Union SG would always be ranked above Tubize in case of ties as the points of Tubize were rounded up prior to the relegation play-offs. Tubize was however spared of relegation from the Belgian First Division B as Lierse did not obtain a Belgian professional football license after going bankrupt.{{cite web|trans-title=Lierse bankrupt, matricule 30 disappears: "Game over"|title=Lierse is failliet, stamnummer 30 verdwijnt: "Game over"|url=http://sporza.be/permalink/1.3194363|accessdate=9 May 2018}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Relegation play-offs

|source=[http://www.proximus11.be/nl/proximus-league/uitslagen-klassement Belgian First Division B] {{in lang|fr|nl}}

|show_matches=true

|teamwidth=110

|team1=ROE |team2=WES |team3=USG |team4=TUB

|result1=RPO |result4=REL

|update=complete

|win_ROE=3|draw_ROE=3|loss_ROE=0|gf_ROE=5|ga_ROE=1 |status_ROE=O

|win_USG=1|draw_USG=1|loss_USG=4|gf_USG=2|ga_USG=6

|win_WES=3|draw_WES=3|loss_WES=0|gf_WES=6|ga_WES=1

|win_TUB=0|draw_TUB=3|loss_TUB=3|gf_TUB=3|ga_TUB=8

|note_TUB=Tubize would have been relegated after finishing last, however following the bankruptcy of Lierse, they remained in the First Division B.

|adjust_points_ROE=18

|adjust_points_USG=16

|adjust_points_WES=14

|adjust_points_TUB=12

|name_TUB=Tubize

|name_USG=Union SG

|name_WES=Westerlo

|name_ROE=Roeselare

|match_ROE_USG= 1–0

|match_ROE_WES= 0–0

|match_ROE_TUB= 0–0

|match_USG_ROE= 0–1

|match_USG_WES= 0–2

|match_USG_TUB= 1–1

|match_WES_ROE= 0–0

|match_WES_TUB= 1–1

|match_WES_USG= 1–0

|match_TUB_ROE= 1–3

|match_TUB_USG= 0–1

|match_TUB_WES= 0–2

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Points without (possible) half points added due to rounding; 3) Matches won; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Away goals scored; 7) Away matches won; 8) Play-off.{{cite web |url=http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=season&id=11676&view=rules |title=Pro League 2017/2018 - Season rules |publisher=Scoresway |accessdate=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032429/http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=soccer&page=season&id=11676&view=rules |archive-date=26 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}

|res_col_header=Q

|col_RPO=green1 |text_RPO=Relegation play off winner

|col_REL=orange1 |text_REL=Relegation to the 2018–19 Belgian First Amateur Division cancelled

}}

Season statistics

=Top scorers=

{{updated|16 February 2018.}}{{cite web|title=Spelersstatistieken|url=https://www.proximus11.be/nl/proximus-league/statistieken|accessdate=4 October 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Rank

! Player

! Club

! Goals

rowspan=3|1

|align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Yannick Aguemon

|align="left"|OH Leuven

|rowspan=3|10

align="left"|{{flagicon|BEL}} Esteban Casagolda

|align="left"|OH Leuven

align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Florent Stevance

|align="left"|Tubize

rowspan=3|4

|align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Xavier Mercier

|align="left"|Cercle Brugge

|rowspan=3|9

align="left"|{{flagicon|ARG}} Hernán Losada

|align="left"|Beerschot Wilrijk

align="left"|{{flagicon|ARM}} Ivan Yagan

|align="left"|Lierse

rowspan=1|7

|align="left"|{{flagicon|TOG}} Euloge Placca Fessou

|align="left"|Beerschot Wilrijk

|rowspan=1|8

rowspan=2|8

|align="left"|{{flagicon|BEL}} Jens Naessens

|align="left"|Westerlo

|rowspan=2|7

align="left"|{{flagicon|BEL}} Dylan De Belder

|align="left"|Cercle Brugge

rowspan=5|10

|align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Irvin Cardona

|align="left"|Cercle Brugge

|rowspan=5|6

align="left"|{{flagicon|BEL}} Mohamed Messoudi

|align="left"|Beerschot Wilrijk

align="left"|{{flagicon|BEL}} Nikola Storm

|align="left"|OH Leuven

align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Guévin Tormin

|align="left"|Cercle Brugge

align="left"|{{flagicon|BEL}} Julien Vercauteren

|align="left"|Union SG

;5 goals (5 players)

{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

;4 goals (5 players)

{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

;3 goals (14 players)

{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

;2 goals (19 players)

{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

;1 goal (40 players)

{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

;1 own goal (7 players)

{{Div col|small=yes|colwidth=32em}}

{{div col end}}

Number of teams by provinces

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Number of teams

! Province or region

! Team(s)

3

|align="left"|{{flag|Antwerp}}

Beerschot Wilrijk, Lierse and Westerlo
2

|align="left"|{{flag|West Flanders}}

Cercle Brugge and Roeselare
rowspan="3"|1

|align="left"|{{flag|Brussels}}

Union SG
align="left"|{{flag|Flemish Brabant}}OH Leuven
align="left"|{{flag|Walloon Brabant}}Tubize

Notes

{{reflist|group=nb}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Belgian First Division B}}

{{2017–18 in Belgian football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 Belgian First Division B}}

Category:Challenger Pro League seasons

Bel

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