Auf Wiedersehen Eupen: Time running out for the only top-flight side representing Belgium’s German speaking region | OneFootball

Eupen suffered their fifth straight defeat on Sunday night when they went down 2-0 at home to Cercle Brugge. Across those five games, they have failed to score a single goal. Two wins to start 2024 gave Florian Kohfeldt’s side a glimmer of hope, but their recent run means an inevitable relegation appears to be looming. This would mean that next year, there would be no side from the German speaking region of east Belgium.

Their final three games all appear difficult. First up is a clash with title chasing Anderlecht in Brussels next weekend, before a home clash with an entertaining Sint-Truiden. Their final games is a derby away to Standard Liege, who themselves will likely need a win to guarantee their survival in the Pro League.

With Isaac Nuhu their top scorer on four goals, it is not hard to see where the problem is for the Pandas. Kohfeldt, despite his Bundesliga experience, has been unable to get the team to perform beyond their ability this season. They were many experts favourites to drop out of the league at the end of this campaign, and sadly it appears the prediction was accurate.

This would mark the end of an eight year stint in the top flight for Eupen, who were promoted under Jordi Condom back in 2015/2016. Since then they have had the likes of Claude Makélélé in charge. Under the former Chelsea midfielder and his replacement Beñat San José, the side did manage a handful of mid table finishes, with their best being 12th in 2018/2019 and 2020/2021. However, last season they only narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the season. This year they do not look like they will be able to muster a lucky escape.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson