Feyenoord vs AC Milan

De Kuip sets the stage for the first leg of an exciting Champions League knockout playoff tie between Feyenoord and AC Milan.

Back to the knockout stages of the European Cup/Champions League for the first time since 1984/85, Feyenoord must defy a managerial vacancy to make it out of the playoff round. Indeed, the club sacked Brian Priske earlier this week despite a 3-0 home win against Sparta Rotterdam last weekend. Heavy defeats to Lille (1-6) in the Champions League and bitter rivals Ajax (1-2) and PSV Eindhoven (0-2) in domestic competitions saw the Rotterdam outfit cut ties with Priske. Interim boss Pascal Bosschaart will turn to Feyenoord’s illustrious track record against Italian opposition for inspiration, with ‘De Stadionclub’ only losing one of their last 11 European clashes against Serie A clubs (W6, D4). Furthermore, Feyenoord got the better of Milan in their only two-legged European tie, beating them in the 1969/70 European Cup.

Meanwhile, AC Milan wasted a glorious chance to secure automatic last-16 qualification, losing 2-1 at Dinamo Zagreb in the league-phase finale. However, Sergio Conceicao’s men have since gone unbeaten in three consecutive domestic outings (W2, D1), including a 2-0 win at Empoli last weekend. Winter signing Santiago Gimenez scored on his Serie A debut and will likely lead the line against the club he played for until last week! But things are not looking ideal for ‘I Rossoneri.’ Indeed, they head into proceedings winless in 11 successive Champions League knockout away matches (D4, L7). Moreover, they’ve won none of their last four continental meetings with Dutch opposition (D3, L1), painting a bleak picture as they endeavor to progress from this tie.