Feyenoord will host AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff round for the first time since the competition was revised.
Feyenoord might be participating in their first knockout clash in the UEFA Champions League since the competition was revised from the old European Cup when they host AC Milan. However, this is not their first time among the elites, as the Rotterdam side did indeed win the European Cup back in 1970, and they met the Rossoneri along the way to the title.
In any case, Feyenoord made their case here in the playoff round, and they deserve their place following some entertaining games along the way. There were some closely-fought games for the Eredivisie outfit, while they did suffer some embarrassing defeats, such as the one against LOSC Lille.
Their results against Manchester City and Bayern Munich stand out. They finished 19th in the standings to earn a spot in the playoffs. Feyenoord now host AC Milan in the first leg of this knockout round. Brian Priske will want to take the advantage to San Siro, as the winners will face one of Arsenal or Inter Milan in the round of 16.
Sergio Conceicao will have similar ambitions to take an advantage back to San Siro for the second leg as he brings AC Milan to Rotterdam. There will have been some disappointed faces in the background as the Rossoneri finished in 13th place in the final league phase standings, especially when they were on course to finish in the top eight.
Milan did not do themselves any favour by failing to beat Dinamo Zagreb on the final matchday, with the Croatian side claiming a good win. The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their three games since that loss, and Conceicao will want to use the momentum to take an advantage against Feyenoord.
Milan also have a dismal record against Dutch opposition, having failed to beat one since 2008 after four unsuccessful attempts. Conceicao would want to set the record straight, as this game will also be a quick reunion for Santiago Gimenez, who moved from Rotterdam to Milan during the winter transfer window.
Team News & Tactics
Feyenoord
There have been no visible changes to Feyenoord’s injury list in recent weeks, as Gernot Trauner continued missing games and will be absent for this one on Wednesday. Justin Bijlow, Calvin Stengs, Chris-Kevin Nadje, and Ramiz Zerrouki are all absent from proceedings.
Timon Wellenreuther will deputise for Bijlow between the sticks. Meanwhile, Quilindschy Hartman may be completely fit to start games now following the left-back’s recent return from a serious knee problem.
Feyenoord will also be able to select winter signing Jakub Moder, who is set to start in their midfield trifecta. The Polish international will have Hwang In-beom and Quinten Timber alongside him in the middle of the park.
With Santiago Gimenez departing, the burden of making an impact in the final third falls on Igor Paixao, who has four assists in the UEFA Champions League. At the same time, Ayase Ueda or Julian Carranza will lead the line for Feyenoord against AC Milan.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Neiuwkoop; Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Moder, In-Beom, Timber; Moussa, Carranza, Paixao
AC Milan
AC Milan’s injury list does not change heading to Rotterdam. Emerson Royal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alessandro Florenzi are absent, while Yunus Musah will be absent due to a suspension.
Sergio Conceicao will also have some of his recruits to select for this clash, as Kyle Walker and Joao Felix are available. However, fellow new arrivals Warren Bondo and Riccardo Sottil are not yet registered for the UEFA Champions League. Conceicao will likely name his strongest side, and there will be some key changes from the lineup that faced Empoli at the weekend.
For instance, key attacker Rafael Leao will assume his place on the left-hand side, which will allow Gimenez to move centrally and replace Tammy Abraham. Christian Pulisic is expected to start on the right flank as the suspended Musah makes way.
Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana will assume their roles in central midfield. At the same time, Malick Thiaw and Stahinja Pavlovic will start at the heart of the defence, with Walker and Theo Hernandez in either full-back positions.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Hernandez; fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Felix, Leao; Gimenez
Key Stats
- Wednesday’s match will be the first time Feyenoord and AC Milan will face each other in a competitive capacity.
- Feyenoord have never been featured in a UEFA Champions League knockout round since the competition was revised.
- AC Milan are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions.
- AC MIlan have not beaten a Dutch side since 2008.
- Christian Pulisic scored four goals during the UEFA Champions League league phase this season, with Olivier Giroud the last player to have more for the club (5 in 2022/23) in a single campaign in the competition. In the process, he also became the first USMNT player to score that many goals in a Champions League campaign.
Player to Watch
Santiago Gimenez
Little did Santiago Gimenez think he would be the centre of attraction in such a big game as the Mexican makes a quick return to his old stomping grounds. He joined AC Milan late in the winter transfer window, and the Rotterdam club might have made a blunder of sorts, especially as they now have to face their former marksman, who is known to score goals.
For Gimenez, this is a big opportunity, albeit a painful one, to be the main man in this game. The Mexican international will want to make a big mark on proceedings and prove that AC Milan did the right thing by paying big to sign him, as he will be the central piece in this tie in Rotterdam.
Prediction
Feyenoord 2-2 AC Milan
Feyenoord will use their home comforts and ensure they do not let AC Milan take advantage of the San Siro. They have shown in the past their ability to make for an entertaining game, and even without Santiago Gimenez’s goalscoring prowess, the Rotterdam club can put on a show.
AC Milan will enter this game as slight favourites to win, but they will face a stern test in the Netherlands. This game has the hallmarks of an entertaining draw, with both teams likely to score more than once. The ultimate decider will be at San Siro to determine which of these teams makes it to the round of 16.
