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Bayer Leverkusen get their UEFA Champions League marketing campaign underway towards Feyenoord on Thursday and are available into this yr’s new-look version as German titleholders. Xabi Alonso’s aspect dislodged Bayern Munchen from the summit and can open their quest towards final yr’s Eredivisie runners-up at De Kuip in one of many early kick-offs.
Dutch champions again in 2023, Feyenoord completed behind PSV Eindhoven final season regardless of a better factors tally than the sixteenth Dutch title of their historical past the yr earlier than. The Rotterdam giants did win the KNVB Beker however Arne Slot has moved on to Liverpool and has been changed by Brian Priske who got here in from Sparta Praha. It has been tough for the Dane up to now with one win from 4 Eredivisie video games in addition to a Johan Cruijff Defend success over Ajax and a nine-point hole to PSV might already be too nice. Again within the UCL once more for his or her second straight marketing campaign which is a primary since 2002 — the 1970 European Cup winners have solely been on this competitors twice up to now 22 years. De Kuip is a tricky place to go and the hosts have misplaced simply as soon as of their final 18 continental video games there with 14 of these wins.
Other than Leverkusen’s loss to Atalanta within the Europa League ultimate, it was a shocking time period for Die Werkself who’re 1988 UEFA Cup winners and noticed off Feyenoord that yr within the third spherical. That’s their solely earlier aggressive assembly and the DFB Pokal winners will probably be seeking to compete on this yr’s new-look UCL having loved deep European runs up to now below Alonso. That is solely a 3rd outing in eight seasons at this degree however one defeat from 11 away video games in Europe will make this one a hard-fought encounter with the street to Munich — and subsequently a German ultimate — beginning right here.
Listed below are our storylines, how one can watch the match and extra:
Easy methods to watch and odds
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 19 | Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- Location: De Kuip – Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Dwell stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Feyenoord +333; Draw +320; Leverkusen -138
League Section
Feyenoord: Bayer Leverkusen (residence), Girona (away), Benfica (away), RB Salzburg (residence), Manchester Metropolis (away), Sparta Praha (residence), Bayern Munchen (residence) and Lille (away).
Leverkusen: Feyenoord (away), Milan (residence), Brest (away), Liverpool (away), RB Salzburg (residence), Inter (residence), Atletico Madrid (away) and Sparta Praha (residence).
Group information
Feyenoord: Arne Slot has left together with Lutsharel Geertruida who now stars for RB Leipzig in Germany. Feyenoord did preserve Santiago Gimenez and he ought to begin whereas Jordan Lotomba and Hwang In-beom might additionally each function. Nevertheless, Calvin Stengs and Hugo Bueno are each out injured. Gernot Trauner returned to motion over the weekend and must be match sufficient for the bench.
Doable Feyenoord XI: Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Timber, Zechiel; Nieuwkoop, Nadje, Paixao; Gimenez.
Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso has kind of a full squad accessible with solely Exequiel Palacios needing a late health check. Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick will dispute a beginning position up high whereas Robert Andrich or Aleix Garcia will hope to pair with captain Granit Xhaka within the center. Florian Wirtz will make his awaited Champions League debut and the Germany worldwide has been concerned in 12 targets and 12 assists in different UEFA competitions.
Doable Leverkusen XI: Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface.
Prediction
Count on this one to be tight however for Leverkusen to only about edge it. A draw wouldn’t be too stunning however the Germans ought to nearly have sufficient to sneak the win by a single purpose. Decide: Feyenoord 1, Leverkusen 2.
