Feyenoord face Bayer Leverkusen for the primary time since 1987 on Matchday 1 of the all-new Champions League league part.
These pair final confronted off throughout Leverkusen’s UEFA Cup success of 1987/88, with the Germans edging previous their Dutch counterparts within the third spherical.
The Bundesliga outfit have returned to UEFA’s premier membership competitors off the again of a historic 2023/24 marketing campaign wherein they had been a recreation away from finishing an unbeaten treble. They had been slain by an Ademola Lookman-inspired Atalanta within the Europa League remaining, nonetheless.
The German champions noticed their unbeaten home run come to an finish earlier than the September break, however they bounced again on the weekend by thumping Hoffenheim 4-1.
Feyenoord, in the meantime, at the moment are led by former Sparta Prague boss Brian Priske following Arne Slot’s departure to Liverpool. They completed second within the Eredivisie final season after successful the title in 2023. Priske’s begin to life in Rotterdam has been irritating, with Feyenoord already 9 factors adrift of Eredivisie holders and present leaders PSV following a string of attracts firstly of the brand new season.
This is 90min’s preview of Thursday’s Champions League conflict.
Feyenoord vs Bayer Leverkusen H2H File
Present type (all competitions)
|
Feyenoord |
Bayer Leverkusen |
|---|---|
|
Groningen 2-2 Feyenoord – 14/09/24 |
Hoffenheim 1-4 Bayer Leverkusen – 14/09/24 |
|
Sparta Rotterdam 1-1 Feyenoord – 25/08/24 |
Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 RB Leipzig – 31/08/24 |
|
PEC Zwolle 1-5 Feyenoord – 18/08/24 |
Carl Zeiss Jena 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen – 28/08/24 |
|
Feyenoord 1-1 Willem II – 10/08/24 |
Borussia Monchengladbach 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen – 23/08/24 |
|
PSV 2-2 (2-4p) Feyenoord – 04/08/24 |
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 (4-3p) Stuttgart – 17/08/24 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/dwell stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports activities 2 |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, ViX, CBS Sports activities Golazo, TUDN USA, UniMás |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Jordan Lotomba and Hwang In-beom are two summer time arrivals that ought to begin Thursday’s conflict in Rotterdam, with Feyenoord additionally retaining the providers of main marksman Santiago Gimenez up high.
They are going to be with out chief creator Calvin Stengs attributable to a knee damage, although, with the previous AZ star prone to be out of motion till the October worldwide break.
Hugo Bueno, on mortgage from Wolves, is a doubt with a muscle damage, whereas Quilindschy Hartman stays sidelined with a knee situation.
Feyenoord predicted lineup vs Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Timber, Zechiel; Nieuwkoop, Nadje, Paixao; Gimenez
In contrast to their hosts, Leverkusen don’t have any damage issues heading into their Champions League opener.
Exequiel Palacios missed the beginning of the brand new season after present process meniscus surgical procedure firstly of August, however he may very well be again in motion on Thursday. A begin is unlikely if he passes a late health check, although.
Xabi Alonso must resolve whether or not Boniface continues up high or whether or not Patrik Schick comes into the facet, and who will companion Granit Xhaka in the midst of the park. Aleix Garcia and Robert Andrich are the main contenders.
Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineup vs Feyenoord (3-4-2-1): Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface.
Feyenoord’s latest malaise and frustration has arrived away from house. They seem to be a completely different beast at De Kuip, and the historic amphitheatre will probably be a cacophony of noise on Thursday.
Nonetheless, the Dutch outfit hardly ever face up in opposition to groups of Leverkusen’s calibre, and their detached begin to 2024/25 beneath new administration suggests they will discover it exhausting to compete in opposition to such a coherent and tactically full outfit.
Leverkusen have shipped too many objectives for Alonso’s liking this time period, however Thursday’s tough encounter presents the German champions to put down a marker on their Champions League return.
