2023–24 Royal Antwerp F.C. season

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.

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

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First-team squad

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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

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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

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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]
Pos. Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
FW   Arbnor Muja   Samsunspor € 2,000,000 9 February 2024
FW   Michael Frey   Queens Park Rangers Undisclosed 28 January 2024
MF   Arthur Vermeeren   Atlético Madrid € 18,000,000 26 January 2024
DF   Sam Vines   Colorado Rapids Undisclosed 22 January 2024
GK   Ortwin De Wolf   Zulte Waregem € 300,000 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 € 13,650,000
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

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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

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Overall record

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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

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League table

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Matches

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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

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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

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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

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Play-off round

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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

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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[a] Advance to knockout phase 2–1 2–1 5–0
2   Porto 6 4 0 2 15 8 +7 12[a] 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. ^ a b 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)[7]
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[8]
Referee: Marco Guida (Italy)

Statistics

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Goalscorers

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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 goals 3 1 0 0 4
Totals 62 16 9 1 88

References

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  1. ^ "Antwerp sign former Leeds and Everton target Senne Lammens from Club Brugge on a free". OneFootball. June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "Lierse oefent tegen landskampioen Antwerp en Qatarese Al-Rayyan". Gazet van Antwerpen. June 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "BOEK P" [BOOK P] (PDF). Belgian FA. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. ^ Stafford-Bloor, Sebastian (18 August 2023). "Shakhtar Donetsk to play home Champions League games at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion". The Athletic. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Antwerp vs. Barcelona" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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