Arne Slot has released Feyenoord’s line-up for the opening match with Maccabi Haifa in the group stage of the Conference League. The coach of the Rotterdam club cannot rely on Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Reiss Nelson who has been hired from Arsenal in Israel. Marcos Senesi is fully fit again and the Argentinian defender appears at the kick-off. Ramon Hendriks has to make way for this. Cyriel Dessers starts on the bench and may make his debut for Feyenoord as a substitute. The first whistle sounds at 4.30 pm Dutch time.
Feyenoord wants to prevent Jahanbakhsh from being unable to play for the national team of Iran in the future, which could be a consequence for athletes from that country who compete against Israeli athletes. The home game against Maccabi Haifa also passes the nose of the wing attacker. Nelson is not yet match fit and therefore not included in the match selection by Slot. Bryan Linssen now starts in the point of attack, with Luis Sinisterra and Jens Toornstra on the flanks.
Fredrik Aursnes, who makes his European debut, gains Slot’s confidence in midfield, alongside Guus Til and Orkun Kökçü. In the back line, Senesi, who has recovered from an upper leg injury, returns to the center, with Austrian acquisition Gernot Trauner next to him. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen and Tyrell Malacia start as right and left backs respectively. Justin Bijlow is as expected under the bar at Feyenoord.
Due to European obligations, the home game with Heracles Almelo, which was initially scheduled for last Sunday, has been moved to December. Due to the international match, Feyenoord last played on August 29. On that day FC Utrecht proved too strong for Slot’s formation 3-1. Maccabi Haifa had a good general, because on Saturday they won 2-1 against Bnei Sakhnin at home. At the opponent of Feyenoord there is a basic place for Tjaronn Chery in the vanguard.
Setup Maccabi Haifa: Cohen; Menachem, Planic, Arad, Meir; Mohamed, Jaber, Jose Rodriguez; Abu Fani, Chery, David
Line-up Feyenoord: Bijlow; Pedersen, Trauner, Senesi, Malacia; Aursnes, Kokcu, Til; Toornstra, Linssen, Sinisterra.