For our Bayer Leverkusen vs. Union Saint-Gilloise prediction, we're going for a 2-0 win for the home side.
The Xabi Alonso revolution continues at Bayer Leverkusen as they face Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League quarterfinal.
Bayer Leverkusen reached the quarterfinal of the Europa League by beating Ferencvaros 4-0 on aggregate following two comfortable 2-0 wins.
After a dreadful start to the season, Bayer Leverkusen are surging in Germany following the appointment of former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso.
They now sit 6th in the Bundesliga table and enter this game in excellent form, unbeaten in their last nine matches having won their last five consecutive matches.
Their form at home is very good too, with Alonso's side winning their last four on a row on home soil by an aggregate scoreline of 11-3.
Their most recent game saw them sail to a comprehensive 3-1 win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, a win that takes them just five points shy of RB Leipzig in 4th.
Leverkusen are favourites for this tie but must be wary of a Union Saint-Gilloise side that have already dispatched some good sides in this year's competition and will likely make this competitive. They need a big win to take to Belgium and will be targeting a two goal cushion at least, and on current form who would back against them.
Union Saint-Gilloise reached the Europa League quarterfinal by beating Bundesliga side Union Berlin 6-3 on aggregate after hammering the German club 3-0 in the second leg following an entertaining 3-3 draw the first time around.
Having already beaten a German club in this competition - with Union Berlin in 3rd place in the Bundesliga, three spots above Leverkusen - Union will be quietly confident of giving Leverkusen a run for their money, despite their opponent's amazing form.
The Belgian club can boast some impressive form of their own as they enter this game unbeaten in their last seven matches having won four of their last five.
Their away form, however, is a worry here having won only one of their last six matches on the road, drawing three and losing two of the other five.
Their most recent game saw them draw 1-1 away at Gent, the side placed 4th in the Belgian First Division A.
Union are 2nd in their domestic league and are having a fine season as they sit just two points behind leaders Genk in the table. They're the underdogs for this tie, and rightly so, but they must not be slept on and could easily cause an upset should Leverkusen not be on top of their game.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.