Feyenoord will host Roma in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the Europa League. While the Dutch champions dropped down from the Champions League. Their Italian counterparts finished second in Group G. With a last-16 place at stake, the clubs now clash for a third successive season.
Preview (Feyenoord vs. Roma)
Last year’s Eredivisie winners Feyenoord ended up third in Group E behind the Biancocelesti and Atletico Madrid, with Celtic topping the overall standings. They were paired with Roma’s local rivals Lazio in the Champions League group stage. Arne Slot’s team managed to win two of their first three games, but they lost the next three.
The Dutch team has scored goals in 14 of their previous 16 European games. They are still scoring plenty in domestic competition. Their winning streak in the Eredivisie and KNVB Beker was extended to nine games with their triumph in Sunday’s derby. Feyenoord defeated Sparta to move up to second place in the league rankings. They are still 10 points behind leaders PSV. This competition might be the best path to championship glory this year. Having lost to Roma in the first-ever Europa Conference League final two years before the Rotterdammers’ defeat at the hands of the same opponents in the Europa League quarterfinals of the previous season, Slot will also be seeking retribution.
Thanks to Nicolo Zaniolo’s game-winning goal in Tirana, Roma won their first major European trophy in 2022. Less than a year later, the Serie A team defeated Feyenoord 4-2 on aggregate. It gives them a psychological advantage ahead of Thursday’s first leg. The 1991 UEFA Cup winners, finished second in Group G behind Slavia Prague. This was despite earning 13 points from six games. They will now play their first continental match since controversial coach Jose Mourinho left the team.
Team News
It’s unclear how the hosts’ back four will line up in midweek after Quinten Timber suffered a serious concussion during Feyenoord’s KNVB Beker match against AZ earlier this month. With Justin Bijlow out for the next month due to a calf injury, German goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther is the Rotterdammers’ last line of defense. Defensive mainstay Gernot Trauner is already sidelined by a hamstring ailment, so Thomas Beelen may have to deputize once more.
Thomas van den Belt, a midfielder, is also out, but Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who just returned from the Asian Cup. He might play on the right flank to assist goalie Santiago Gimenez. With 19 goals in 21 league games this season, the latter is expected to replace Ayase Ueda in the starting lineup. Romulu Lukaku, the star striker for Roma, has scored 20 goals in his last 17 Europa League games and has only failed to score once in that time. The Belgian forward is only five goals away from breaking Rafael Falcao’s competition record of thirty goals all-time.
Jimmy Abraham, an English striker, is still out, but fellow countryman Chris Smalling has returned to full training; Evan Ndicka is unlikely to play because he has been enjoying Ivory Coast’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations. Due to a back issue, Bryan Cristante was forced to withdraw against Inter, which may have allowed Eduardo Bove to be promoted to the starting lineup, which should also contain full-back Rick Karsdorp. Between 2014 and 2017, the Netherlands international made 122 appearances with Feyenoord, including one loan stint.
Feyenoord 2-1 Roma
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