A manager-less Feyenoord host the first leg of their Champions League play-off with Milan on Wednesday night.
The Dutch side performed admirably in the league phase, but a 6-1 defeat to Lille on the final matchday almost cancelled out their previous successes against Manchester City and Bayern Munich. However, it was their domestic indifference which forced them to part ways with Brian Friske ahead of Wednesday's first leg.
Feyenoord, who won the Eredivisie under current Liverpool boss Arne Slot two years ago, sit fifth in the Dutch top flight and are 12 points adrift of leaders Ajax. There's been a sharp decline compared to 2023/24 and Friske, who was appointed in the summer, has paid with his job.
Milan will thus be sensing blood at De Kuip as they fly to Rotterdam. They, too, have parted ways with a manager this term, but Sergio Conceicao has had plenty of time to thrust his ideas onto the Rossoneri squad. They finished two points ahead of Feyenoord in the league phase table and head into their play-off tie having won four of their previous six games in all competitions.
Here's 90min's preview of Wednesday's Champions League play-off first leg.
What time does Feyenoord vs Milan kick-off?
- Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Stadium: De Kuip
- Date: Wednesday 12 February
- Kick-off Time: 20:00 (GMT) / 12:45 (ET) / 09:45 (PT)
- Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (ESP)
- VAR: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP)
Feyenoord vs Milan H2H Record (All Games)
- Feyenoord: 1 win
- Milan: 1 win
- Draws: 0
- Last meeting: Feyenoord 1-0 Milan (26 November 1969) - European Cup
Current form (all competitions)
Feyenoord | Milan |
|---|---|
Feyenoord 3-0 Sparta Rotterdam - 08/02/25 | Empoli 0-2 Milan - 08/02/25 |
PSV 2-0 Feyenoord - 05/02/25 | Milan 3-1 Roma - 05/02/25 |
Ajax 2-1 Feyenoord - 02/02/25 | Milan 1-1 Inter - 02/02/25 |
Lille 6-1 Feyenoord - 29/01/25 | Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 Milan - 29/01/25 |
Feyenoord 3-0 Bayern Munich - 22/01/25 | Milan 3-2 Parma - 26/01/25 |
How to watch Feyenoord vs Milan on TV and live stream
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 3 |
United States | Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, UniMs |
Canada | DAZN Canada |
Feyenoord team news
Santiago Gimenez switched Rotterdam for Milan in the winter, leaving a gaping void up top for Wednesday's hosts. It looks like summer arrival Julian Carranza will be tasked with replacing the prolific Mexican for the remainder of 2024/25, and he should retain his place in the XI for Milan's visit.
The hosts have a few injury concerns, with starting goalkeeper and Dutch international Justin Biljow set to miss both legs due to a knee issue. Calvin Stengs is another significant absentee with a hamstring complaint, while Jordan Lotomba is out for the long haul with a broken leg.
Gernot Trauner and Ramiz Zerrouki are doubts.
Feyenoord predicted lineup vs Milan
Feyenoord predicted lineup vs Milan (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Nieuwkoop, Trauner, Hancko, Smal; Milambo, Beelen, Timber; Hadj Moussa, Carranza, Paixao.
Milan team news
Milan were one of the busiest clubs in the January window, and we should see at least a couple of their new arrivals in action on Wednesday night.
Kyle Walker has settled in nicely at right-back, proving to be an immeasurable upgrade on summer addition Emerson Royal, who's currently out injured. Joao Felix, as he almost always does, has hit the ground running after signing on Deadline Day, and he could work his way into Conceicao's XI in Rotterdam.
Gimenez is also in contention to face his former club, but Tammy Abraham could get the nod up top.
Yunus Musah is suspended after seeing red in Zagreb, while Alessandro Florenzi is out injured. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a doubt.
Milan predicted lineup vs Feyenoord
Milan predicted lineup vs Feyenoord (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Walker, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Reijnders, Fofana; Pulisic, Felix, Leao; Abraham.
Feyenoord vs Milan score prediction
Conceicao's Milan are one to watch throughout the knockout phase. The Portuguese coach excels on the continental stage, with his Porto teams able to punch above their weight against some of the competition's top dogs.
This is an excellent draw for the Rossoneri, and they will benefit from prising Feyenoord's leading goalscorer away from Rotterdam ahead of their play-off. The hosts' reduction in firepower, injury woes seeping through their core, and the absence of a permanent manager should allow the visitors to win with relative comfort on Wednesday night.
Prediction: Feyenoord 0-2 Milan
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