Feyenoord must be feeling a gut-wrenching sense of deja vu after being drawn against Roma in European competition for the third season on the trot. De Kuip forms the backdrop for the first leg of this handsomely-looking Europa League knockout playoff tie on Thursday.
Revenge will be at the forefront of Feyenoord’s mind, especially as Roma denied them their second continental title in the 21st century two years ago. Led by former manager Jose Mourinho, Giallorossi squeaked past the Dutch outfit 1-0 in the inaugural Europa Conference League campaign in 2021/22.
To add insult to injury, Roma pulled off a memorable comeback to overturn a narrow first-leg deficit in last season’s Europa League quarter-finals, emerging 4-2 aggregate victors following a 4-1 thumping in the return leg at the Stadio Olimpico. But Feyenoord can draw confidence from a 1-0 home win in the first leg.
Despite their heroic effort in that last-eight tie, Roma slipped at the last hurdle as Sevilla came out on top of a nail-biting penalty shoot-out drama in the grand final. Keen to do one better this season, Giallorossi turn to new manager Daniele De Rossi for inspiration. Mourinho, who led them to back-to-back European finals, at least helped the club navigate the group stages before being sacked in mid-January.
De Rossi’s regime couldn’t have started any better. In part thanks to a favorable fixture schedule, Roma had won their opening three Serie A matches under the club icon before slumping to a 4-2 home defeat to runaway leaders Inter last weekend. Irrespective of that setback, the Italians will take this trip with renewed confidence amidst a decent continental campaign.
Match Preview
Feyenoord
As if facing Roma isn’t ominous enough, Feyenoord fell short of another Stadio Olimpico tenant in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign. Arne Slot’s side had to settle for a third-placed finish in Champions League Group E behind Atletico Madrid and none other than Giallorossi’s arch-rivals Lazio.
On a positive note, one of their two group-stage victories (L4) came against Maurizio Sarri’s team, with Feyenoord running out 3-1 winners on this ground. There’s more reason for optimism around the Dutch camp, particularly amid the reigning Eredivisie champions’ imperious start to the new calendar year.
Yet to lose a match in 2024 (W5, D2), Feyenoord eased past Dutch minnows Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 at home in the build-up to this encounter, making it three wins in their last four outings at De Kuip (D1).
Roma
Inter might have disrupted De Rossi’s otherwise flawless managerial record at Roma, yet the Italian knows in-depth about hurting Feyenoord. He was part of the Giallorossi squad to overcome the Dutch powerhouse in the Europa League round of 16 in 2014/15 and will be looking to replicate that feat as a manager.
But to fulfill that goal, he must find a formula to reignite Roma’s woeful away form. A 2-1 win at Salernitana in his only away league game in charge of the Rome heavyweights remains their only success across their last five competitive travels (L4). And since they failed to score in three of those four games, leaving De Kuip undefeated could prove daunting.
Nothing less will do for Roma in the midst of the club’s worst 24-game Serie A start since 2012/13.
Team News
Feyenoord will be without first-choice goalkeeper Justin Bijlow and captain Gernot Trauner. Quinten Timber is unlikely to start the match due to concussion, but Lutsharel Geertruida should retain his place at the heart of Slot’s defense despite a minor injury concern.
On the other hand, long-term absentees Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham will not board the plane with the rest of the Roma squad. But Paulo Dybala’s return to full fitness is a massive boost for De Rossi’s first-ever European match as a manager.
Evan Ndicka is available for selection after forming part of the Ivory Coast squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations title last week. But he’ll more likely stay on the bench, with Diego Llorente tipped to partner up with Gianluca Mancini at the back.
Feyenoord vs Roma Potential Lineups
Feyenoord (4-2-3-1): Timon Wellenreuther; Lutsharel Geertruida, Thomas Beelen, David Hankco, Hartman; Mats Wieffer, Ramiz Zerrouki; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Calvin Stengs, Igor Paixao; Santiago Gimenez.
Roma (4-3-3): Mile Svilar; Rick Karsdorp, Gianluca Mancini, Diego Llorente, Angelino; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Leandro Paredes, Edoardo Bove; Paulo Dybala, Romelu Lukaku, Stephan El Shaarawy.
Feyenoord vs Roma Prediction
A traditionally intimidating atmosphere at De Kuip plays into Feyenoord’s hands, as does Roma’s travel sickness. Maybe the newfound fortitude under De Rossi could help the Italian side avoid a first-leg deficit, yet it’s hard to back them for a win with conviction. There’s a feeling they’d settle for a draw.
Prediction: Draw
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