Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen made light work of Union Saint-Gilloise to book their place in the last four of the Europa League.
Bayer Leverkusen waltzed into the UEFA Europa League semi-finals with a 4-1 defeat of Union Saint-Gilloise, sealing a 5-2 win on aggregate.
Xavi Alonso’s Leverkusen went into Thursday’s quarter-final second leg without a win in their last three visits to Belgium in European competition, but the Bundesliga side came through.
Moussa Diaby’s coolly taken goal calmed their nerves in the second minute, Mitchel Bakker slotting home from close range to double the visitors’ lead before half-time.
Bakker played a key role in Leverkusen’s third, forcing Union goalkeeper Anthony Moris into a terrible clearance which he turned into Jeremie Frimpong’s empty net after the hosts had started the second half brilliantly.
The Union were rewarded for a spirited response when Casper Terho pulled one back with a deflected strike, but it proved to be only a consolation when Adam Hlozek was on hand to add extra gloss to Leverkusen’s victory late on.
Leverkusen are in their first European semi-final since the last four of the Champions League in 2002.
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