2023-24 UEFA Europa League Knockouts: First Leg – Feyenoord vs Roma

Feyenoord host Roma at Feyenoord Stadium in the first leg of their knockout play-off in 2023-24 UEFA Europa League. 

Feyenoord qualified for this stage by finishing third in their Champions League group, whilst Roma finished second in their Europa League group which saw them miss out on a bye to the Round of 16.

 

Team News

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Quinten Timber is a doubt for Feyenoord as he continues his recovery from a concussion.

Justin Bijlow (calf), Thomas van den Belt (hip) and Gernot Trauner (hamstring) remain ruled out.

Roma could be without defender, Evan Ndicka who has only just returned to the first team in the last couple of days, following Ivory Coast’s success at Africa Cup of Nations.

Bryan Cristiante (back) and Chris Smalling (muscle) are doubts but Tammy Abraham (ACL) remains absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Feyenoord host Roma at Feyenoord Stadium at 6:45pm CET on Thursday 15 February, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Feyenoord have lost one of five previous meetings against AS Roma in all UEFA competitions (W1, D1, L3).
• Roma have won one of their two previous away visits to Feyenoord (W1, L1).
• Both teams have kept one clean sheet in their five previous meetings in all UEFA competitions.
• Feyenoord have scored first in two of their three home games in UEFA competitions this season (W2, L1).
• Two of Roma’s three away goals in the Group Stage were scored by Romelu Lukaku.

 

Prediction

Although they scored in five of their six matches in the Champions League’s Group Stage, Feyenoord’s defence simply conceded too many goals but they come into this game unbeaten in nine games in all competitions with six clean sheets.

Roma meanwhile possess a huge goalscoring threat in Romelu Lukaku and are unbeaten in three of four games since Daniele De Rossi replaced Jose Mourinho, so there should be confidence that they can navigate this tricky tie.

Feyenoord however do have Santiago Gimenez up front who has scored 21 goals already this season so I do expect this to be a tough battle, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this ends up in a draw with a mouth-watering second leg in Italy set up to be a corker.

Prediction: Feyenoord 1-1 Roma

Result: Feyenoord 1-1 Roma