Once the Belgian Pro League regular season concludes, the playoffs begin to determine, among other things, which teams will qualify for the next European competitions. As for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification, a playoff is played between the fourth-placed team from the Championship Playoff (which includes the top six teams from the regular season) and the winner of the mini-league featuring teams that finished between seventh and twelfth. On Friday, May 16, at the King Power at Den Dreef Stadium, two sides from this latter group will face off: OH Leuven and KVC Westerlo, who finished 11th and 9th respectively in the Belgian Pro League. This is the ninth matchday out of ten in the European Playoff group, and the standings are already quite clear. Both teams are out of the running for first place—currently held by Charleroi. Nonetheless, this game promises to be entertaining. The hosts, currently second-last in the group with 8 points, will want to bid farewell to their home fans with a win before facing leaders Charleroi in the final round next week. Westerlo, second in the group but seven points behind the top, also has no real stakes left but will aim to end on a high note and break a one-month winless away streak before hosting Standard Liège next weekend.

Leuven Recent Form and Key Stats

It’s a rough patch for OH Leuven, who are coming off back-to-back losses—2-1 against KV Mechelen and a crushing 5-0 defeat to FC Dender. These results halted a seven-match unbeaten run which included five draws and two wins against Sint-Truiden (last game of the regular season) and Standard Liège, both part of the Conference League playoff group.

In the European Playoffs, Chris Coleman's men have collected only 8 points from 8 matches, with just 1 win, 5 draws, and 2 defeats. They are winless at home in this phase, recording 1 loss and 3 draws, including a thrilling 4-4 against Dender on April 19. They’ve scored 6 and conceded 7 in 4 home games during this playoff round.

Westerlo Recent Form and Key Stats

Last Friday, KVC Westerlo squandered a golden chance to close in on the top of the Playoff group, losing 4-3 away to Charleroi despite leading 1-3 until the 57th minute. For Timmy Simons’ team, it was the first defeat after a streak of four draws and two wins. Their previous loss in this playoff phase came on matchday one against Dender.

Westerlo have been prolific offensively in the European Playoffs, scoring 17 goals in 8 matches, but they’ve also been very shaky at the back—conceding 16 goals, exactly two per game on average. Away from home, they’ve had 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses so far, netting three goals in each of their last two road games against Charleroi and Mechelen.

Leuven vs Westerlo Prediction and Tactical Preview

Leuven will try to use home advantage to give fans a final reason to cheer. They have lost only once in their last 14 home games and have scored exactly 2 goals per game in each of their last 3 at the King Power at Den Dreef—an encouraging stat considering they are up against one of the weakest defenses in the Playoff group.

While Westerlo clearly struggle defensively, Simons’ side has been consistent in scoring away from home, failing to find the net in only 2 of their last 9 away matches. In their last 5 road games, Sakamoto (who netted twice against Charleroi) and teammates have averaged 1.8 goals per game.

Given these stats and the fact that both teams are playing without pressure, the Leuven vs Westerlo prediction by the BetMines algorithm suggests an open, high-scoring affair with goals on both ends.

• Leuven vs Westerlo prediction from the BetMines algorithm predicts that both teams will score at least one goal at 61%.
  
  
• Leuven vs Westerlo prediction from the BetMines Algorithm predicts that at least one of the two teams will not score a goal at 39%.

Leuven vs Westerlo Predicted Lineups

LEUVEN (4-3-1-2): Leysen; Gil, Pletinckx, Ominami, Osifo; George, Verstraete, Schrijvers; Balikwisha; Mitrovic, Zeefuik. Coach: Chris Coleman

WESTERLO (4-2-3-1): Jungdal; Reynolds, Bayram, Vuskovic, Rommens; Sayyadmanesh, Van den Keybus; Yow, Sakamoto, Devine; Frigan. Coach: Timmy Simons