Feyenoord vs. AC Milan | Champions League | Knockout Round Playoffs | 1st Leg | Pre Match

Making a much-awaited debut in the Champions League knockout phase, Feyenoord will welcome AC Milan to De Kuip for the first leg of their playoff on Wednesday. The historic Dutch club, known for its passionate fanbase and rich European history, will be hoping to make a strong impression as they prepare to host one of Europe's most decorated teams. The last time these two sides met was over five decades ago, in the 1970 European Cup, when Feyenoord famously eliminated Milan and went on to lift the trophy. While times have changed, the significance of this encounter remains enormous, as the winner will move on to the last 16 to face either Arsenal or Inter Milan.

Feyenoord's qualification for this stage marks a significant achievement, as they have not reached the knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition since 1985. They capitalized on UEFA's new format, finishing 19th in the league phase, a position that ensured their progression to this crucial stage of the competition. Their campaign has been nothing short of eventful, headlined by a shock 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich and a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Manchester City. However, it has also featured a humbling 6-1 defeat at the hands of Lille, which highlighted their vulnerabilities, particularly in defense.

Under the guidance of manager Brian Priske, Feyenoord has proven to be one of the most entertaining teams in the competition. Their matches have consistently been high-scoring, with only games involving Barcelona witnessing more goals during the league phase. However, they also conceded the most goals among the 24 teams that advanced, underlining the defensive frailties that could be exploited by a clinical Milan side. The Dutch club's home form in Europe has been inconsistent, suffering defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg, making it three losses from their last six European fixtures at De Kuip. This is a stark contrast to their previous 16-match unbeaten run at home in European competitions.

Despite their European exploits, Feyenoord has endured a challenging domestic season. Last year's Eredivisie runners-up have struggled under Priske's management, with speculation about his future intensifying before their memorable victory over Bayern. A series of setbacks followed, including a painful defeat to arch-rivals Ajax in Der Klassieker and an early exit from the KNVB Beker at the hands of league leaders PSV Eindhoven. Their domestic struggles have been compounded by defensive frailties, as they have managed only two clean sheets in their last 15 matches. However, they enter this crucial clash on a positive note, having secured a convincing 3-0 derby win over Sparta Rotterdam, which ended a frustrating four-match winless streak in the Eredivisie.

While Feyenoord’s recent form has been inconsistent, history favors them when facing Italian opposition. The Rotterdam-based club has lost only one of their 11 home matches against Italian teams, with their sole defeat coming against Roma exactly a decade ago. This statistic should provide them with some confidence as they prepare to face Milan, a club with a storied European legacy but one that has struggled in recent encounters against Dutch teams. Milan has not beaten a Dutch side since 2008, making their trip to De Kuip even more challenging.

For Milan, this fixture represents a crucial opportunity to reaffirm their status among Europe's elite. While they possess a rich Champions League pedigree, having won the tournament seven times, the Rossoneri have found themselves in the knockout stages of UEFA’s top competition for only the second time in the past 11 seasons. Their league-phase campaign saw them finish two points and six places ahead of Feyenoord, but their journey was far from smooth. After a difficult start, Milan secured impressive victories, including a remarkable triumph over Real Madrid. However, a costly defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on the final matchday saw them slip down the standings and miss out on automatic qualification for the last 16.

Newly appointed coach Sergio Conceicao has been tasked with revitalizing a talented yet inconsistent Milan squad. His tenure began positively, as he guided the team to Supercoppa Italiana glory within a week of taking over. However, Milan’s recent struggles cannot be ignored. They currently sit seventh in Serie A, far below expectations for a club of their stature. Furthermore, their record in Champions League knockout stage away matches is concerning. Despite reaching the semi-finals in 2023, Milan has failed to win any of their last 11 away games in the knockout rounds, scoring a mere three goals across the last 10 of those fixtures. This statistic will be a major concern as they prepare for a hostile atmosphere at De Kuip.

Nonetheless, Milan enters this fixture with a boost in confidence, following back-to-back victories in domestic competitions. On Saturday, goals from substitutes Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez helped them secure a 2-0 win over Empoli, despite being reduced to 10 men. This victory came on the heels of a 3-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final triumph against Roma, marking a rare period of defensive solidity for the Rossoneri, who have kept only two clean sheets in their last 12 matches. Conceicao will be hoping his side can carry this momentum into their European campaign.

Feyenoord's squad for this encounter remains relatively unchanged, with Austrian defender Gernot Trauner expected to miss a third consecutive match due to injury. Goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther will continue to deputize for the injured Justin Bijlow, while Calvin Stengs, Chris-Kevin Nadje, and Ramiz Zerrouki are also unavailable. However, there is some positive news for Priske, as left-back Quilindschy Hartman has recently returned from a serious knee injury and played in Saturday’s win. Additionally, January signing Jakub Moder has been registered for the knockout stages and could play a role.

Feyenoord’s attacking output has been led by Igor Paixao, who was one of the most creative players in the league phase, registering four assists—only Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere recorded more. Paixao will be a crucial figure in support of either Ayase Ueda or Julian Carranza, with both strikers vying for a starting berth. However, the standout performer has undoubtedly been Santiago Gimenez, who averages a goal every 59 minutes in this season’s competition. His return to De Kuip will be an emotional one, given his prolific record of 65 goals in 105 appearances for Feyenoord across all competitions before his move to Milan.

Milan’s squad has seen notable reinforcements, with the arrivals of Kyle Walker, Joao Felix, Riccardo Sottil, and Warren Bondo. However, the latter two have not been registered with UEFA, limiting their involvement in this fixture. On the injury front, Emerson Royal (calf), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (thigh), and Alessandro Florenzi (knee) are all unavailable, while Yunus Musah is suspended. Christian Pulisic is expected to be a key figure, having already scored four times in the league phase—more than any American player in a single Champions League campaign.

With both sides possessing attacking firepower but also displaying defensive vulnerabilities, this tie promises to be an exciting and unpredictable encounter. Feyenoord will aim to make the most of their home advantage and build a lead before heading to the San Siro for the return leg. Meanwhile, Milan will be desperate to overcome their poor away form in the knockout stages and take a step closer to European glory. The stage is set for a captivating battle at De Kuip, where history and ambition will collide in what promises to be a thrilling spectacle.