With a good result in Austria against Sturm Graz, Feyenoord can qualify for the knockout phase of the Europa League. Trainer Arne Slot conducts according to the General Newspaper some changes, after the disappointing 1-1 against Fortuna Sittard last weekend. Patrik Wålemark is allocated a base place and Marcos López and Danilo also return in the first eleven.
In Group F of the Europa League, all four teams are on five points. Earlier on Thursday evening, at 6.45 pm, Lazio and FC Midtjylland play against each other in Rome. Feyenoord kicks off at 9 p.m. In Rotterdam, Sturm Graz was no match for the Rotterdam team and it was 6-0. After the previous loss against Lazio Roma (4-2) and the draw against Midtjylland (two times 2-2), the differences in the group are nil. If the Rotterdammers manage to win, the chance of overwintering is high.
Slot said at Wednesday’s press conference that he had an almost completely fit selection. Only the long-term injured Oussama Idrissi is missing and although Igor Paixão is not one hundred percent fit, he can take a seat on the bench. Ezequiel Bullaude also traveled to Austria, leaving the young Noah Naujoks, who was a substitute against Fortuna Sittard last Saturday, in Rotterdam.
In Graz Justin Bijlow will be under the bar as usual. Marcus Pedersen plays at right back and López comes back to play at left back. This restores the central duo Gernot Trauner and Dávid Hancko. Last weekend, the Slovakian played left back.
Slot is not making any changes in the midfield. Quinten Timber, Orkun Kökçu and Lutsharel Geetruida together form the diaphragm. In the front Danilo can show it in the striker. The last four games, the Mexican Santiago Giménez was preferred in that place, but he did not score. Wålemark is preferred in the front right position, Sebastian Szymanski starts on the bench. Javairô Dilrosun is posted on the other side.
Probable line-up Feyenoord: Bijlow; Pedersen, Trauner, Hancko, Lopez; Timber, Kokcu, Geertruida; Wålemark, Danilo, Dilrosun