Last season, Feyenoord finished second to PSV in the Eredivisie, losing their Dutch championship title in the process. However, this runner-up position earned them a place in the new Champions League format.
Feyenoord’s start to the current season in the Eredivisie has been mixed, with three unbeaten games but two draws—against Willem (1-1) and Sparta Rotterdam (1-1) before the international break. In between, the 16-time Dutch champions secured a comfortable 5-1 win over relegation candidate Zwolle. Last weekend, Feyenoord aimed to keep their unbeaten run going on the road against Groningen.
Meanwhile, in Germany, Bayern Munich’s 11-year dominance in the Bundesliga came to an end as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen claimed their first-ever German title. Leverkusen’s season last year was marked by invincibility in the league and success in the German Cup, although they faltered in the Europa League final against Atalanta, where Lookman scored a hat-trick.
Despite their strong domestic season, Bayer Leverkusen struggled in the early stages of the new campaign, losing 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig before the international break. However, they had previously beaten Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 and won the German Super Cup against Stuttgart on penalties.
For Feyenoord, two players might miss the game: Hartman, who recorded five assists last season, and Austrian international Trauner, who has been out since the Euro.
The rest of the squad should be available, including Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez, who had 23 goals and six assists in the league last season and has already scored twice this season. Other key players include Dutch international Quinten Timber, winger Stengs, Brazilian Paixao, and Japanese international Ayase Ueda.
On the Leverkusen side, Argentinian Palacios, who contributed four goals and five assists last season, remains injured, while Finnish goalkeeper Hradecky, who missed the Leipzig defeat, returned to action with his national team.
Key players from last season, such as Wirtz, Boniface, Xhaka, and full-backs Frimpong and Grimaldo, are all expected to be available for the game. New additions like Martin Terrier and midfielder Aleix Garcia (formerly of Girona) will also be part of the squad.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen have been involved in 18 consecutive away fixtures with at least two goals, while Feyenoord’s last 15 of 16 Champions League matches have featured over 2.5 goals. Expect an exciting match with goals likely to come from both sides.
Prediction: Feyenoord 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen
