Royale Union SG – Bayer Leverkusen : Preview & Prediction
Thursday, April 20 at 9 p.m. are the return matches of the Europa League quarterfinals, among them Union Saint Gilloise-Bayer Leverkusen, which will restart from the 1-1 first leg. In the first match the Germans did not take advantage of the home factor, in fact they risked losing as they went under, hit by Boniface early in the second half, and only a goal in the final by the talented Wirtz gave them the equalizer. They face two formations in great form with the Belgians experiencing a real fairy tale, Union in fact representing a country of less than 45 thousand inhabitants and seriously threatening to go to the semifinals in Europe’s second most important competition.
The bookmakers’ odds are clearly in favor of Bayer Leverkusen with the Germans’ success banked at around two times the stakes, while that of the hosts is at 3.50 exactly like the draw. Little hope for the Belgians even to pass the round for the betting agencies with odds at 2.37 against Bayer’s around 1.50.
In the Union the man to watch out for is center forward Boniface, in goal in the first leg and in the sights of some big clubs for the next market, including Lazio. In the 4-3-3 designed by Geraerts the outfielders will be Maltese Teuma, the fittest of his team, and Adinga, 21-year-old who scored last Sunday, rising to nine on the season.
Xabi Alonso after league rotations returns to the starting team. The eve doubt is in the midfield where Palacios is not at his best and may have to raise the white flag with Demirbay taking his place. The Germans’ fittest and most talented player is young Wirtz, who since returning from a nasty knee injury in January has put up four goals and eight assists in all competitions, not to mention that in the first leg it was he who sent the tying ball into the net. Confirmed 3-4-2-1 with Tah leading the defense, on the left the easy-assist fullback Frimpong (10 decisive passes in the season) and in attack top scorer Diaby (13 goals) along with Wirtz supporting Adli, center forward due to the forfeit of Schick who along with Lunev will not be in the match.
Royale Union SG – Bayer Leverkusen : Betting Tips
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
