Bayer Leverkusen open the door to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, but Union Berlin are still looking for the key.

In the round of 16 first legs, only one of the two Bundesliga teams has established a comfortable starting position. Bayer Leverkusen won 2-0 (1-0) against Ferencvaros Budapest on Thursday evening, Kerem Demirbay (10th) and Edmond Tapsoba (86th) nourishing Leverkusen’s last title hopes in what has been a disappointing season so far.

Union Berlin, meanwhile, managed a 3:3 (1:1) in a turbulent game in freezing rain against the Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise – at least, it had to be said in the end.

Winter signing Josip Juranovic (42nd), centre-back Robin Knoche (69th) and Sven Michel (89th) equalised three times.

The visitors from Belgium showed themselves ice-cold through Victor Boniface (28th, 72nd) and Yorbe Vertessen (58th) and frustrated the hosts with strong counterattacks.