Westerlo’s Ferri Scores Twice as Leuven Falls 2-0 in Belgian Pro League Playoff

Nacho Ferri delivered a brace to secure a 2-0 victory for KVC Westerlo over Oud-Heverlee Leuven in the Belgian Pro League Playoff Round on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The match took place at The King Power AT Den Dreef Stadium in Heverlee, Belgium, with kickoff at 18:30 UTC (2:30 PM local time).

Ferri opened the scoring in the 62nd minute and doubled Westerlo’s lead just five minutes later in the 67th minute. The goals came during a stretch where Westerlo asserted control after a balanced first half, turning the tide in their favor with clinical finishing.

According to match statistics from ESPN, Westerlo maintained 52.2% possession compared to Leuven’s 47.8%. The visitors also outshot the home side 13 to 11 in total attempts, while recording six corner kicks to Leuven’s four. Westerlo’s goalkeeper made four saves, while Leuven’s counterpart faced three shots on target.

The result moved Westerlo to 12 wins, 9 draws, and 12 losses (26 points) in the 2025-26 Belgian Pro League season, while Leuven fell to 9 wins, 8 draws, and 16 losses (18 points). Both teams were competing in the Playoff Round of the league’s postseason structure.

Westerlo’s lineup featured Ferri as a forward in a 3-4-3 formation, supported by midfielders Henok Teklab and Siebe Schrijvers, and defenders including Ewoud Pletinckx and Lukasz Lakomy. Leuven lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Thibault Vlietinck and Thibaud Verlinden in midfield, and Mathieu Maertens and Sory Kaba in attacking roles.

Substitutions shaped the final stages of the match. Westerlo brought on Lucas Mbamba-Muanda in the 75th minute, while Leuven made two changes at the 76th minute: William Balikwisha was replaced by Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi, and Davis Opoku entered the game in place of another player (name not specified in available sources).

The victory continued Westerlo’s recent dominance over Leuven in head-to-head encounters. Prior to this match, Westerlo had won three of the last five meetings, including a 2-0 victory in October 2025 and a 2-2 draw in April 2025. Leuven’s last win in the fixture dates back to March 2025, when the teams played to a 0-0 draw.

In the broader league context, Racing Genk led the playoff standings with a +128 goal difference (13 wins, 10 draws, 10 losses), followed by Standard Liege (+26), Westerlo (+22), Antwerp (-12), and Royal Charleroi SC (-6). Leuven’s -15 goal difference placed them sixth among the six playoff teams.

The match formed part of a congested schedule for both clubs, with Leuven set to host another fixture at Den Dreef Stadium later in the week. For Westerlo, the win provided momentum as they prepared for their next playoff encounter.

As the Belgian Pro League Playoff Round progresses, both teams will look to adjust their strategies based on this result. Westerlo will aim to build on Ferri’s form and their defensive organization, while Leuven will seek to convert their chances more effectively in upcoming matches.

Fans can follow the remainder of the playoff series through official league channels and team updates as the race for European qualification spots intensifies.

What’s next: Both teams return to action later in the week as the Belgian Pro League Playoff Round continues, with updated schedules to be announced by the league.

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