OH Leuven vs. Westerlo Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 16 May 2025 - bettingexpert

On 16 May 2025, OH Leuven will take on Westerlo in what promises to be a crucial showdown in the First Division A at the King Power at Den Dreef. Both teams find themselves in the top half of the table; Westerlo sits in 3rd place with 29 points, while OH Leuven is in 5th place with 27 points. With the gap between them being so narrow, this fixture is essential for their playoff aspirations.

The home side, OH Leuven, has struggled recently, as reflected by their form (LLDWD). They will be looking to rebound from a heavy 5-0 loss to FCV Dender EH. Injury concerns such as Antef Tsoungui and Mathieu Maertens, combined with OH Leuven’s tendency to concede in the dying minutes, could play a significant role in this match.

Westerlo, on the other hand, has been in decent form (LWDWD) and is recommended to win, considering their recent scoring streak of 10 consecutive matches. With Matija Frigan leading the line and having netted 4 goals this season, Westerlo fans will be confident.

Expect an intriguing match with potential late-game drama, given both teams’ defensive vulnerabilities in the final 15 minutes. Keep an eye on OH Leuven’s star performer, Siebe Schrijvers, who has seven goals this season.

OH Leuven vs Westerlo Prediction & Betting Tip

OH Leuven vs Westerlo Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Westerlo to win	2.66

• Westerlo’s strong away performance and consistent scoring make them the favourites.
• OH Leuven’s recent form is less impressive, with significant defensive vulnerabilities.
• Historical encounters between these teams often result in close, high-scoring affairs, further favouring the in-form Westerlo.

OH Leuven vs Westerlo Odds

Here’s a snapshot of what the bookies are predicting:

OH Leuven vs Westerlo Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
OH Leuven	2.35
Draw	3.70
Westerlo	2.66

Both teams have tight odds, reflecting their close standings and similar recent form. OH Leuven is the bookmaker’s favourite, albeit marginally. Given the close nature of their previous encounters and Westerlo’s consistent scoring run, betting on Westerlo could provide good value.

OH Leuven Team Analysis

OH Leuven Recent Performance

Let’s take a look at OH Leuven’s recent form heading into this match:

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
FCV Dender EH	OH Leuven	2025-05-11	Playoff ECL grp. A	5-0 (Loss)
OH Leuven	KV Mechelen	2025-05-03	Playoff ECL grp. A	1-2 (Loss)
OH Leuven	Standard Liege	2025-04-26	Playoff ECL grp. A	1-1 (Draw)
Standard Liege	OH Leuven	2025-04-22	Playoff ECL grp. A	0-1 (Win)
OH Leuven	FCV Dender EH	2025-04-19	Playoff ECL grp. A	4-4 (Draw)

Recent Form: LLDWD

OH Leuven has had a series of mixed results in their last five matches. Despite a strong offensive showing, scoring an average of 1.40 goals per game, they’ve struggled to secure wins. The team managed to earn just one clean sheet in their recent outings, highlighting some defensive vulnerabilities.

Their last match was a heavy 5-0 loss away at FCV Dender EH, which followed a narrow 2-1 home defeat to KV Mechelen. Before that, they scraped a 1-1 draw against Standard Liege and clinched a crucial 1-0 away victory over the same team.

A standout fixture was their thrilling 4-4 draw with FCV Dender EH, showcasing their attacking capabilities but also their defensive frailties.

OH Leuven Key Players

OH Leuven’s lineup features several crucial players who could make a significant impact in their upcoming match against Westerlo.

• Siebe Schrijvers
  • Top scorer with 3 goals this season.
  • Expected to start in midfield and will be crucial for both creating and finishing opportunities.
• William Balikwisha
  • Likely to play in an attacking midfield role, providing both goals and key passes.
• Tobe Leysen
  • Will aim to strengthen the team’s defense as the goalkeeper, particularly after a heavy 5-0 loss in their last match.

Expected lineup for OH Leuven:

• Goalkeeper: Tobe Leysen
• Defenders: Óscar Gil, Ewoud Pletinckx, Takuma Ominami, Manuel Osifo
• Midfielders: Wouter George, Birger Verstraete, Siebe Schrijvers, William Balikwisha
• Forwards: Lequincio Zeefuik, Stefan Mitrovic

Highly anticipated key individual battles:

• Siebe Schrijvers vs Emin Bayram
• Lequincio Zeefuik vs Tuur Rommens

OH Leuven Suspensions & Injuries

OH Leuven are facing a few injury concerns as they head into their match against Westerlo.

Player	Injury	Expected return
Antef Tsoungui	Cruciate ligament injury	Late May 2025
Mathieu Maertens	Hamstring injury	Doubtful
Takahiro Akimoto	Thigh injury	Doubtful

These injuries may impact OH Leuven’s defensive stability and midfield depth. Antef Tsoungui’s long-term absence is a significant blow, while Maertens and Akimoto being doubtful could affect the midfield’s overall dynamism. Coach Chris Coleman will need to manage these absences carefully to ensure the team remains competitive.

OH Leuven Tactics and Formation

OH Leuven Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Stefan Mitrovic
• Midfield Trio: Wouter George, Birger Verstraete, Siebe Schrijvers
• Defensive Quartet: Óscar Gil, Ewoud Pletinckx, Takuma Ominami, Manuel Osifo

Chris Coleman is expected to stick with the 4-3-3 formation, focusing on both wing play and midfield control. The defensive unit led by Pletinckx will have to be resilient, especially as they have conceded 1.3 goals per match on average this season.

In attack, Mitrovic and Zeefuik will look to exploit any gaps left by the Westerlo defense. The midfield, driven by Schrijvers, must control the tempo and supply the forwards effectively.

With injuries impacting defensive stability, strategic pressing and maintaining possession will be crucial.

Westerlo Team Analysis

Westerlo Recent Performance

Westerlo has showcased strong form in their recent matches, with a record of LWDWD. Despite a narrow 4-3 loss against Sporting Charleroi, the team has been performing well overall. They have zero clean sheets but boast an impressive average of 2.60 goals scored per game in their last 5 encounters.

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Sporting Charleroi	Westerlo	2025-05-09	Playoff ECL grp. A	4-3 (Loss)
Westerlo	FCV Dender EH	2025-05-02	Playoff ECL grp. A	4-2 (Win)
Westerlo	KV Mechelen	2025-04-26	Playoff ECL grp. A	2-2 (Draw)
KV Mechelen	Westerlo	2025-04-22	Playoff ECL grp. A	2-3 (Win)
Standard Liege	Westerlo	2025-04-19	Playoff ECL grp. A	1-1 (Draw)

Westerlo is in a good scoring run, having netted goals in 10 consecutive matches. They’ll lean on their attacking prowess to continue this form against OH Leuven. However, their defense will need to tighten up to avoid late-game lapses, especially since they concede most goals in the final quarter of the match.

Westerlo Key Players

Westerlo will depend heavily on their star forward Matija Frigan, who is their top scorer with 4 goals this season. His ability to find the back of the net could be decisive. Additionally, keep an eye on Alfie Devine and Isa Sakamoto in the midfield, as both are capable of creating scoring opportunities and dictating the pace of the game. The suspension of Dogucan Haspolat might impact their midfield depth, but Thomas Van Den Keybus will look to step up in his place. Defensively, Luka Vuskovic and Emin Bayram need to be solid to handle the threats from OH Leuven’s attack.

Expected lineup for Westerlo:

• Goalkeeper: Andreas Jungdal
• Defenders: Bryan Reynolds, Emin Bayram, Luka Vuskovic, Tuur Rommens
• Midfielders: Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, Thomas Van Den Keybus, Griffin Yow, Isa Sakamoto, Alfie Devine
• Forward: Matija Frigan

Westerlo Suspensions & Injuries

Here are the current suspensions and injuries for Westerlo:

Player	Suspension	Expected return
Dogucan Haspolat	Yellow/red card	18/05/2025

Player	Injury	Expected return
Jordan Bos	Hamstring Injury	Doubtful
Bakary Haidara	Unknown	Doubtful

The suspension of Dogucan Haspolat will be a significant blow for Westerlo as he is one of their key defensive midfielders. His absence could leave a gap in the midfield that OH Leuven might exploit. Furthermore, the injuries to Jordan Bos and Bakary Haidara add to Westerlo’s challenges. With both players doubtful for the match, coach Timmy Simons will have to rely on his bench to plug these gaps effectively. The absence of experienced players can disrupt the team’s defensive stability and overall chemistry.

Westerlo Tactics and Formation

Westerlo Tactics and Formation:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Matija Frigan
• Midfield Trio: Griffin Yow, Isa Sakamoto, Alfie Devine
• Defensive Stability: Coach Timmy Simons typically employs a double pivot with Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Thomas Van Den Keybus to shore up the midfield.
• Notable Strategy: Westerlo relies on a balanced approach, often focusing on quick counter-attacks and utilizing the wings for offensive play. They have been effective in scoring, with 10 consecutive matches with goals.

With Dogucan Haspolat suspended, they might be slightly disrupted in midfield, but they have the depth to adjust effectively. Expect an emphasis on maintaining their scoring run, especially through the creative play of Devine and Sakamoto.

OH Leuven vs Westerlo Head-to-Head Statistics

Home team	Away team	Date	Competition	Result
Westerlo	OH Leuven	2025-04-05	First Division A Playoff Conference League Group	2-2 (Draw)
OH Leuven	Westerlo	2025-03-02	First Division A	0-0 (Draw)
Westerlo	OH Leuven	2024-08-24	First Division A	1-1 (Draw)
OH Leuven	Westerlo	2024-05-25	First Division A Playoff ECL Group	1-2 (Loss)
Westerlo	OH Leuven	2024-04-23	First Division A Playoff ECL Group	1-1 (Draw)

Their head-to-head history reveals a pattern of closely contested games, predominantly ending in draws. This suggests a balanced matchup, though Westerlo had a slight advantage with a 2-1 victory in their encounter on 2024-05-25. This trend could make for an intriguing game at King Power at Den Dreef.

Odds accurate as of 14/05/2025 19:46, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.