Champions League PREVIEW | Feyenoord v Lazio

A vital Group E clash is on the menu this evening as Feyenoord welcome Lazio at De Kuip in Matchday 3 of the Champions League.

Feyenoord are unbeaten in the Eredivisie this season, having scored the most goals (32) amongst Dutch clubs across nine games. Goals from Calvin Stengs and Alireza Jahanbakhsh secured the three points for the Rotterdam-based side in Matchday 1 but they fell to Atletico Madrid in the following match-up despite posing a tough game for their Spanish counterparts. 

A four-goal win over Vitesse in their previous game ensured that Feyenoord extended their league-winning run to seven matches in a row, averaging over 3.5 goals per match. The Dutch team have never progressed beyond the group stages of the Champions League since winning the 1970 edition but hope is there that they finish top two in their group this season.

Meanwhile, Lazio approach this match on the back of a convincing 2-0 victory against Sassuolo in the Serie A. Felipe Anderson opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Luis Alberto riled in another in the 35th minute. The win helped the Biancocelesti stretch their winning streak across all competitions to three consecutive games. 

Maurizio Sarri’s team have failed to make a mark early on in the season and after enduring four defeats from their first nine games, they sit ninth in the league standings. Though Lazio have turned things around for now, it will be a tough battle for the two sides today to grab the three points.

Results from their last five matches across all competitions

Feyenoord:

W W L W W

Lazio:

W W W L W 

Team News

Santiago Gimenez and Yankuba Minteh were injured in Feyenoord’s last game and they will miss the match today.

Luka Ivanusec and Gernot Trauner are set to be sidelined for the match.

As for Lazio, Taty Castellanos is set to fight for his place in the starting line-up with Ciro Immobile who has recovered. 

Mattia Zaccagni is set to feature after being rested over the weekend. 

Predicted XIs

Feyenoord (4-3-3): Bijlow; Nieuwkoop, Geertruida, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Zerrouki, Timber; Stengs, Ueda, Igor Paixao

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Guendouzi, Vecino, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Castellanos, Zaccagni

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN