After several unexpected delays, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season of the Lebanese Premier League finished on the 3rd of January 2021. For the first time in history, the league was to be split into two halves - the top six teams would be involved in a play-off or championship round, while the bottom six teams would be in the play-out, or relegation round. Each team would play every other team once, a total of five matches. Points earned during the regular season would be carried over in this next stage.
However, more than two months passed without any football played, again because of the pandemic and the health-related issues in Lebanon. Eventually, on the 1st of March, it was decided that the league would resume on the 19th of March, with the first round of the play-off, while the first round of the play-out is scheduled for the 20th of March.
After the first round, there will be a short break caused by the matches of the national teams. Then, the other four rounds will be played, and the league will end on the 24th of April.
Ansar and Nejmeh are the big favorites to win the title this year. The match between them, in the last round, might prove decisive.
The play-off will start from the following situation:
Final table of the regular season
|
1 |
Ansar |
11 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
28-5 |
27 |
Qualified for the AFC Cup |
|
2 |
Nejmeh |
11 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
23-8 |
25 |
Qualified for the AFC Cup |
|
3 |
Shabab Sahel |
11 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
13-3 |
24 |
|
|
4 |
Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley |
11 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
8-6 |
19 |
|
|
5 |
Al Ahed |
11 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
13-10 |
17 |
|
|
6 |
Safa |
11 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
17-17 |
16 |
|
Play-off round 1 (19 March 2021)
Ansar - Safa
Nejmeh - Ahed
Shabab Sahel - Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley
In the play-out, Salam Zgharta are in a very difficult position to avoid relegation. Tadamon Sour and Shabab Al-Ghazieh seem to be the two candidates for the other spot leading to the Second Division. The other three teams look rather safe, but everything may change in the remaining five rounds. However, there are talks about cancelling the relegation and to increase the number of teams to 14 for the 2021-2022 season.
Bourj FC are in the best position in the play-out, and they will start by facing the last classified, Salam Zgharta, at Fouad Chehab Stadium in Jounieh, on the 20th of March. One remembers that this was the venue of their match in the 2019 Challenge Cup final which Bourj FC won 2-0.
Bourj (in black) and Salam Zgharta (in red) will meet again in the first round of play-out. Source: elmaestrosport.com
The play-out will start from the following table:
Final table of the regular season
|
7 |
Bourj |
11 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
12-11 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
AC Tripoli |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6-9 |
13 |
|
|
9 |
Shabab El Bourj |
11 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
13-11 |
12 |
|
|
10 |
Tadamon Sour |
11 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
3-9 |
7 |
|
|
11 |
Shabab Al-Ghazieh |
11 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
6-21 |
6 |
Relegation to the Second Division |
|
12 |
Salam Zgharta |
11 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
3-35 |
1 |
Relegation to the Second Division |
Play-out round 1 (20 March 2021)
Bourj FC - Salam Zgharta
AC Tripoli - Shabab Al-Ghazieh
Shabab El Bourj - Tadamon Sour
Matches will be played on neutral grounds, and spectators are not allowed due to the restrictions imposed by the authorities.
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