Some statistics after the first half of the season

We are 17 match days into the Jupiler Pro League season. It's an ideal moment to take stock of the situation now that the competition is on hold until the third week of December due to the World Cup break. With 25 points, Cercle can look back on a successful first half of the season. Cercle have won more times (7) than they have lost (6), but their recent run of 19 points from 24 available was especially impressive.

Since Cercle changed coaches after the draw against KV Oostende, only Genk (24 out of 24) and Union (21 out of 24) have picked up more points than our Groen-Zwart (19 out of 24). Since then, Cercle also has the third-best attack in the competition (after Genk and Union) with 19 goals scored. It has also been solid defensively: Cercle have only conceded nine goals over the past eight matchdays and thus have the fourth best defense in the country (after Genk, Union and Ghent).

Furthermore, the fact that Cercle gives opportunities to (own) youth players is of course nothing new. Last season Cercle was the youngest team in Europe and this season it continues in this vein. With an average age of 22.8 years, Cercle has again been the youngest team in the Jupiler Pro League. Here's a fun fact: last weekend Cercle won 0-1 away to STVV; the Canaries are now the oldest team in the first division.

Now it's time to take a breather: the players and staff members are currently enjoying a week of vacation. From the middle of next week they are expected back in Bruges to resume training. Between November 27 and December 4, the selection will then go to Benidorm in Spain for a training camp. Coach Miron Muslic: "After a few busy weeks, it is now time to rest and recharge our batteries. After the break we want to get back to playing this way again."