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 Rotterdam club last met the seven-time continental champions in 1970, when they progressed from a European Cup tie and went on to lift the trophy; this time, the winner will play either Arsenal or Inter Milan in the last 16.
Match preview
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Making the most of UEFA's new format, Feyenoord are into the knockout rounds of Europe's top club competition for the first time since 1985, having finished 19th in the inaugural league phase.
An eventful campaign was headlined by a shock 3-0 defeat of German giants Bayern Munich - and featured a dramatic 3-3 draw away to Manchester City - though the Dutch club also suffered a 6-1 thumping by Lille.
Brian Priske's side almost guaranteed entertainment across their eight fixtures, as only games played by Barcelona witnessed more goals; albeit, of the 24 teams to progress they conceded the most.
Home defeats by Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg also made it three losses from Feyenoord's last six European matches at De Kuip, after they had gone unbeaten throughout the previous 16.
Last term's Eredivisie runners-up have struggled without former boss Arne Slot this season, and current coach Priske was on the verge of being sacked before that brilliant win over Bayern.
Recently, they lost Der Klassieker to bitter rivals Ajax then were knocked out of the KNVB Beker by league leaders PSV Eindhoven, amid their worst domestic run for nine years.
Only Saturday's 3-0 derby victory against Sparta Rotterdam halted a frustrating four-match winless streak in the Eredivisie, and they have recorded just two clean sheets from their last 15 games.
Given such circumstances, at least history will be on their side when Milan come to town: Feyenoord have lost only one of 11 home meetings with teams from Italy - a 2-1 defeat to familiar foes Roma exactly a decade ago.
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Followed by four unsuccessful attempts, Milan's last victory over opponents from the Netherlands came back in 2008 - but an overdue win on Wednesday would set them up perfectly for next week's return.
While they boast many years of European experience, the Italian heavyweights are into the knockout stages of UEFA's top tournament for just a second time in the past 11 seasons, having finished two points and six places better off than Feyenoord.
After recovering from back-to-back defeats, Milan beat mighty Real Madrid among others and actually held a cherished top-eight position heading into the final matchday; however defeat to Dinamo Zagreb saw them slip down the standings and miss out on automatic entry to the last 16.
Coach Sergio Conceicao - who lifted the Supercoppa Italiana within a week of his mid-season appointment - may come to rue that slip-up in Croatia, as his new club have a dismal away record in the Champions League's elimination phase.
Though they made it all the way to the 2023 semi-finals - ultimately exiting to city rivals Inter, who they could meet again in this year's competition - the Rossoneri have failed to win any of their last 11 away games in the knockout rounds, scoring just three goals in the last 10.
Furthermore, Conceicao was hired to motivate a talented but inconsistent squad: after finishing inside Serie A's top two for a third time in four seasons, this term they sit seventh.
On Saturday, goals from substitutes Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez - the latter of whom was making his league debut after signing from Feyenoord, and will now make a quick return to De Kuip - earned 10-man Milan a 2-0 win over Empoli.
Coming days after a 3-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final success against Roma, that was just their second clean sheet in 12 matches but will give Conceicao something to build on.
Team News
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Feyenoord's absence list could remain unchanged, as Brian Priske has all but ruled out Austrian defender Gernot Trauner for a third straight game, while several players are still sidelined.
Timon Wellenreuther is again set to deputise for injury-plagued goalkeeper Justin Bijlow; Calvin Stengs, Chris-Kevin Nadje and Ramiz Zerrouki will also miss out.
In better news for embattled boss Brian Priske, left-back Quilindschy Hartman recently returned from a serious knee injury and played on Saturday, while January signing Jakub Moder has also been registered for the knockout stages.
Only Atalanta BC's Charles De Ketelaere recorded more assists during the league phase than Brazilian forward Igor Paixao (four), who should support either Ayase Ueda or Julian Carranza up front.
In total, Paixao has five Champions League goal contributions this term, with only Santiago Gimenez - who averages one goal every 59 minutes in this season's competition - having managed more for Feyenoord (six).
After racking up 65 strikes in 105 games for the Dutch club across all competitions, the latter will now vie with Tammy Abraham to lead Milan's attack at De Kuip.
An integral cog in the Rossoneri's front line, Christian Pulisic scored four times during the league phase - already more than any American player in one Champions League campaign - and he should also start.
In addition to Gimenez, the visitors have bolstered their squad by bringing in Kyle Walker, Joao Felix, Riccardo Sottil and Warren Bondo, though the latter pair have not been registered with UEFA.
Emerson Royal (calf), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (thigh) and Alessandro Florenzi (knee) are all ruled out by injury, while Pulisic's international colleague Yunus Musah must serve a suspension.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Nieuwkoop, Beelen, Hancko, Hartman; Moder, Timber, Hwang; Hadj-Moussa, Ueda, Paixao
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Felix, Leao; Gimenez
We say: Feyenoord 1-1 AC Milan
Feyenoord have been faltering, while Milan are rarely at their best away from San Siro, so a score draw could be the outcome of an intriguing first leg.
Leaving this tie in the balance, both teams will surely find the net against a suspect opposition defence.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
