Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen will kick-start their UEFA Champions League campaigns when they clash at De Kuip on Thursday.
The latest edition of the UEFA Champions League has incorporated some intriguing changes. Not only are there more teams in the competition, there is no group stage, and Thursday night matches are a thing now. The action on Thursday will begin at De Kuip, where Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen will lock horns.
Feyenoord qualified for the UEFA Champions League by finishing second in the Eredivisie last season. However, the Dutch giants have been slow off the blocks in the post-Arne Slot era, winning only one of their first four league games thus far while languishing in seventh on the table. However, they have won the Johan Cruijff Schaal, beating PSV Eindhoven on penalties.
As for Bayer Leverkusen, they reached the UEFA Champions League by winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga title. Die Werkself nearly went the entire season unbeaten, lifting the league title and the DFB Pokal. However, the German giants have not been at their best in the early days of the 2024/25 campaign, already losing in the Bundesliga. However, Xabi Alonso’s men have won the DFL Supercup.
Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen have only locked horns twice previously, with the latter winning 3-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16 of the 1987/88 UEFA Cup. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Feyenoord
Brian Priske has a pressing injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, the Feyenoord manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
Calvin Stengs is unavailable for the foreseeable future as he recovers from a knee injury. In addition, Quilindschy Hartman is recuperating from a knee issue, although he should return soon. Meanwhile, Hugo Bueno is closing in on returning to action, although Thursday’s game might come too soon for him.
Timon Wellenreuther should take his spot between the sticks, with Feyenoord lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday. The backline should feature Jordan Lotomba, Thomas Beelen, David Hancko, and Gijs Smal.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Quinten Timber and Gjivai Zechiel in the double pivot. Chris-Kevin Nadje should reprise the no. 10 role, with Luka Ivanusec and Igor Paixao lining up as the wide attackers. Finally, star striker Santiago Gimenez will lead the line for the home side against Bayer Leverkusen.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Timber, Zechiel; Ivanusec, Nadje, Paixao; Gimenez
Bayer Leverkusen
Unlike his counterpart in the Feyenoord dugout, Xabi Alonso does not have any issues to deal with ahead of the trip to De Kuip. The Bayer Leverkusen manager will have a full-strength squad on Thursday.
Last season, Alonso preferred Lukas Hradecky in the Bundesliga while handing the goalkeeping duties to Matej Kovar in the UEFA Europa League and DFB Pokal. That pattern should continue this term, with Kovar taking his spot between the sticks.
Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie should form the central defensive unit. Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo will start as the two wing-backs, with the duo providing the width in the final third and taking charge of the creativity from the flanks.
As for the midfield unit, Robert Andrich should line up alongside Granit Xhaka in the double pivot. Florian Wirtz and Martin Terrier will likely take up the central spots in the final third, with Victor Boniface spearheading the Bayer Leverkusen attack this midweek.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
Key Stats
- Feyenoord and Bayer Leverkusen’s only previous meeting was in the Round of 16 of the 1987/88 UEFA Cup. Die Werkself prevailed 3-2 on aggregate before winning the trophy that season.
- Bayer Leverkusen have never lost a major European game against a Dutch club in six previous meetings (W3 D3), although Thursday’s clash will be their first since a 0-0 draw with PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Cup in September 1994.
- Feyenoord have lost 12 of their last 15 matches in the UEFA Champions League (W3), including their last eight away from home.
- Brian Priske managed six matches in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League game as FC Midtjylland boss, failing to register a win (D2 L4). Of the previous six Feyenoord managers to lead them in the competition, two have won their first match: Leo Beenhakker in 1997/98 vs Juventus and Arne Slot last season vs Celtic.
- Victor Boniface scored five goals in eight UEFA Europa League appearances last season for Bayer Leverkusen, averaging a goal every 76 minutes and scoring in all four starts for Leverkusen. Ulf Kirsten is the only Leverkusen player to score in five major European starts in a row, doing so twice in runs ending in 1994 and 1999.
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz was in a league of his own at Bayer Leverkusen last season, even though several players stepped up. The German international scored and assisted goals for fun, with his exploits earning him the Bundesliga Player of the Year award. He then carried that form to UEFA Euro 2024, emerging as one of the top performers in the competition.
Meanwhile, across the previous four Europa League seasons, Wirtz has been involved in the most goals (12 goals, 12 assists) and created the most chances (88) of any player. The 21-year-old will now be eager to make his mark in the UEFA Champions League as the Bundesliga champions return to Europe’s top tier.
Prediction
Feyenoord 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Both teams have blown hot and cold in the early days of the 2024/25 season. Feyenoord might be unbeaten in the first few weeks of the new campaign, but they have won only one game in regulation time. As for Bayer Leverkusen, they have already lost their first Bundesliga match this term, although they lifted the DFL Supercup last month.
So, with neither team in top form, a cagey affair might be on the cards, especially considering every point matters in the new UEFA Champions League format. The match should go down the wire, with both teams in contention to emerge victorious. However, Victor Boniface and Florian Wirtz should deliver the goods for Bayer Leverkusen, with Xabi Alonso’s men winning 2-1 this midweek.
