Arne Slot’s Feyenoord will face a particularly difficult challenge on Thursday evening. Even when the Rotterdam team beat Lazio, the club is not sure of wintering in the Europa League. In the event of a defeat, Feyenoord can still find comfort with qualification for the Conference League. football zone list all the scenarios in this article.
Feyenoord is currently in third place in Group F of the Europa League and has collected five points after five matches (goal difference +3). Opponent Lazio leads the group with eight points, but has a negative goal difference of one. The Italians went down quite embarrassingly in September with 5-1 against the last player FC Midtjylland. Just like Feyenoord, the Danes have five points, but the goal difference is one goal worse. Thanks to the late victory over Feyenoord (1-0), Sturm Graz is in second place with eight points, but has the worst goal difference in this group with -4.
Feyenoord wins
When Feyenoord wins by at least two goals on Thursday, the club is certain of the next round in the Europa League. Based on mutual results, Slot’s team then goes over Lazio. With a minimal win against Maurizio Sarri’s team (just one goal difference), Feyenoord is dependent on the match between Midtjylland and Graz.
If the Danes win, Feyenoord then becomes second in the group, while a win or draw for Graz in that Scenario means the Conference League. When Feyenoord records a minimal win and Midtjylland also wins, the Rotterdam team will finish in the top two teams in Group F based on the mutual result against Graz (6-1). In that case, Feyenoord overwinters in the Europa League.
Feyenoord draws
When Feyenoord does not get further than a point against Lazio, the team from Rotterdam is also dependent on the result in the Danish MCH Arena. It is then no longer possible to continue in the Europa League. In that case, Feyenoord needs a win or draw from Graz. The matches will both be finished at 6.45 pm, which means that the results cannot be influenced by each other.
Feyenoord loses
In the event of a defeat, the team from Rotterdam can still qualify for the intermediate round of the Conference League. Midtjylland must lose at home to Graz, while Slot and his men must not face a major defeat. In this scenario, the goal difference is ultimately decisive in Group F. Feyenoord currently has one goal margin in that regard. Last season, De Stadionclub saw how much fun the Conference League can also bring, so qualification for that tournament could in any case be little consolation.