Feyenoord Faces Challenges After Europa League Loss

After the defeat against VfB Stuttgart in the Europa League on Thursday, Robin van Persie finds himself back at the drawing board. His team’s performance against the Germans was commendable, even with an improvised starting eleven due to numerous absences. The challenge now lies in how Van Persie will approach the upcoming match against Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday.

The loss in Germany was particularly bitter for Feyenoord. Competing against VfB Stuttgart—the current fourth-placed team in the Bundesliga—the Rotterdammers, utilizing a makeshift lineup, delivered a strong performance. Unfortunately, two late goals resulted in a 2-0 defeat. Nonetheless, there were many positives to take from the match. “Feyenoord was the best team we have faced in our stadium since Bayern Munich in the Supercup,” complimented Stuttgart’s technical director, Fabian Wohlgemuth. The question now remains: can Van Persie build upon this foundation given the significant personnel challenges?

The midfield has been particularly affected by injuries, with key players Sem Steijn, Oussama Targhalline, In-beom Hwang, and Jakub Moder all unavailable. In the match against Stuttgart, Van Persie opted for a midfield consisting of Quinten Timber and Luciano Valente, with Cyle Larin stepping in as a makeshift midfielder in place of Steijn. Remarkably, this setup worked quite effectively, with Larin serving as a traditional target man, albeit not from a forward position.

Ayase Ueda was unable to find the net on Thursday, despite coming close with a powerful header that missed the goal by just two meters. Had that ball found the back of the net, it could have resulted in a significantly different match for Feyenoord. Nevertheless, Ueda will have another opportunity to score when they face Go Ahead Eagles, and he will be positioned to do so from the striker’s role.

Expected lineup for Feyenoord against Go Ahead Eagles:
Wellenreuther; Read, Ahmedhodzic, Watanabe, Smal; Timber, Valente, Larin; Hadj Moussa, Ueda, Sauer.

Remember, gambling can be risky. Play responsibly and seek help if needed.