Good evening everybody, I am Caspar Fusco and welcome back to coverage of Thursday night football as the Europa League returns for the knockout round of the competition. Follow the live blog as I bring you updates from all around the grounds in Europe’s early kick-offs with a main focus on Feyenoord vs Roma!
The two teams met in the inaugural UEFA Conference League final back in 2022, where Roma won the game 1-0 thanks to a Nicolo Zaniolo goal to pick up their first trophy in 14 years with Jose Mourinho at the helm of I Giallorossi. Arne Slot, this time, faces a new face in the form of Daniele De Rossi following Mourinho’s sacking a month ago. How will Slot fare in his latest European challenge?
Here is the Feyenoord starting XI:
Arne Slot makes just the one change from Sunday’s victory over Sparta Rotterdam: Bart Nieuwkoop replaces the club captain Lutsharel Geertruida.
Roma’s team for tonight’s game:
The Roma team looks significantly different to the one that started in their 4-2 defeat to Inter Milan with Daniele De Rossi making five changes for tonight’s game. Rui Patricio, Dean Huijsen, Angelino, Bryan Cristante and Stephen El Shaaraway all dropping out the side.
There is a brilliant atmosphere building as the teams walk out the tunnel. The De Kuip has been a fortress for Feyenoord which contrasts the wretched away form of Roma.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, this game is anything but easy for Feyenoord with the injury to top scorer Santiago Jiminez and illness to Geertruida. With the likes of Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku on the pitch anything is possible for Roma.
KICK OFF: And we are underway for tonight’s Europa League action in the Netherlands. Two sides who have met on numerous occasions in the past few seasons but who will be the victor of this first leg matchup.
2′- It is a lively start to this one with Feyenoord already getting into good positions down the flanks. Roma will have to try and quieten this crowd down and get a hold of this game in the early proceedings.
7′- Roma are enjoying spells of possession here but the Feyenoord press is incredible. I Giallorossi do not have a minute to breath on the ball.
Embed from Getty Images8′- The first corner of the game goes to Roma after some great centre forward play by Lukaku. The resulting set piece is a poor one and Feyenoord clear the danger.
10′- HUGE CHANCE for Roma. Pellegrini is slipped through with just the keeper to beat. It is great play from Wellenreuther to come out and take the ball from the Italian’s feet. The ball falls kindly to Edoardo Bove who sees his effort cleared incredibly by Feyenoord’s David Hancko.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe offside flag goes up in the end but it was an incredible piece of defending from Feyenoord’s captain.
14′- Lukaku is causing all sorts of problems with his sheer power and determination. He wins a free kick in a good position for Roma and Thomas Beelen is the first player to go into the Romanian referee Petrescu Radu Marian’s notebook.
15′- The wall does its job and stops the Pellegrini free kick. The shot deflects off the wall and goes out for a corner which is again dealt with by Feyenoord.
18′- Roma have handled the Feyenoord attack really well. They look the more dangerous of the two teams and have settled brilliantly in the early knockings of the game.
21′- HUGE CHANCE for Feyenoord this time and just as I was crediting the good work that Roma have done in this game Igor Paixao walks through their defence but fails to connect properly with his shot and drags it wide.
Embed from Getty Images24′- CHANCE again for Feyenoord. The pitch opens up and all of a sudden Mats Wieffer is in a great shooting position, but his effort is tame and straight down the throat of Mile Svilar.
UPDATE: GALATASARAY vs SPARTA PRAHA (1-0) – (Scored by Kerem Demirbay assisted by Mauro Icardi)
28′- Such a good tempo to this game with both sides finding good opportunities. Roma first with Zalewski who finds himself in a great position but passes instead of shooting and Feyenoord intercept. Feyenoord then break down the right and the ball is crossed into the box but unfortunately for them, Paixao can not connect.
UPDATE: YOUNG BOYS vs SPORTING LISBON (0-1) – (OG by Aurele Amenda)
33′- Spinazzola makes a great block from a fierce Yakubah Minteh effort. I am not too sure how much the Italian fullback knew about it, however that looked to of been troubling Mile Svilar.
35′- Minteh is the second player to go into the book for an arm in the face of Zalewski who goes down rather easily. Not too sure where Zalewski has been practicing his theatrics but they look to have payed off.
40′- OFF THE CROSSBAR! Roma build play up on the edge of the Feyenoord box. The ball rolls to Paredes who decides to take aim and unleashes a mean strike which Wellenreuther tips onto the crossbar to keep the game at 0-0.
UPDATE: YOUNG BOYS vs SPORTING LISBON (0-2) – (PENALTY by Viktor Gyokeres)
UPDATE: YOUNG BOYS vs SPORTING LISBON (1-2) – (Scored by Filip Ugrinic)
45′- HUGE CHANCE for Romelu Lukaku and Roma. The corner is whipped in from Dybala and Lukaku does well to meet it. His effort is straight at the goalkeeper and does not trouble Wellenreuther.
45+1′- GOAL: FEYENOORD vs ROMA 1-0 (Scored by Igor Paixao)
Embed from Getty ImagesWe have lift-off in this round of 16 tie! It is a poor goal to concede from a Roma perspective as Quilindschy Hartman crosses an inviting ball into the box which Paixao, who finds himself free, climbs highest for and nods home his second career goal in European football.
HALF TIME – FEYENOORD vs ROMA (1-0). A brilliant first half comes to an end at the De Kuip stadium. The game had been tense before that late Paixao goal with both teams looking dangerous on the attack but wasteful in front of the net. On the balance of play, Feyenoord have just edged the game but it is far from over. What an exciting second 45 we have on our hands!
Embed from Getty ImagesAROUND THE GROUNDS:
GALATASARAY vs SPARTA PRAHA: (1-0), YOUNG BOYS vs SPORTING LISBON: (1-2), SHAKTAR DONETSK vs MARSEILLE: (0-0)
2ND HALF: We are underway for the 2nd half of the Feyenoord vs Roma game. Huge 45 minutes in this tie before the second leg in the Stadio Olimpico.
47′- Dangerous free kick here for Feyenoord after some great centre forward play by Ayase Hueda. Diego Llorente is the first Roma player booked tonight as a result.
48′- The freekick is fired into the wall. Edoardo Bove felt the full force of that and is down on the ground. Ouch.
UPDATE: GALATASARAY vs SPARTA PRAHA (1-1) – (Scored by Angelo Preciado)
UPDATE: YOUNG BOYS vs SPORTING LISBON (1-3) – (Scored by Goncalo Inacio assited by Pedro Goncalves)
53′- In a similar fashion to the first half Roma are dominating the ball in the early stages of this second 45. Encouraging signs for Daniele De Rossi.
54′- CHANCE for Lukaku. Another header goes a miss for the Belgian. The ball in was just a little too high for him and he fails to get a pure connection on it.
57′- Double change in the offing coming soon for Feyenoord. Top scorer Santiago Jiminez is ready to come on. Arne Slot clearly feels as though his side needs something different in order to regain authority in this game.
UPDATE: GALATASARAY vs SPARTA PRAHA (2-1) – (Scored by Dries Mertens assisted by Mauro Icardi)
63′- A break in the game as there are substitutions for both Feyenoord and Roma.
UPDATE: SHAKHTAR DONETSK vs MARSEILLE (0-1) – (Scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang assisted by Jonathan Clauss)
UPDATE: RED CARD GALATASARAY (Victor Nelson)
67′- GOAL: FEYENOORD vs ROMA (1-1) – (Scored by Romelu Lukaku assisted by Leonardo Spinazzola)
And on the basis of this second half it is no more than Roma deserve. They have started this second half strongest and are now level in the tie. That man Romelu Lukaku has looked menacing all night and meets a ball crossed in by Spinazzola which in the end comes off the Belgian’s shoulder. 1-1!
69′- Calvin Stengs goes into the book after his foul. Arne Slot will need to be wary of suspensions with 20 minutes plus stoppage time left in this game.
UPDATE: GALATASARAY vs SPARTA PRAHA (2-2) – (Scored by Jan Kutcha assisted by Angelo Preciado)
UPDATE: SHAKHTAR DONETSK vs MARSEILLE (1-1) – (Scored by Mykola Matviyenko)
71′- That yellow card will be the end of Stengs’ night as slot lines up a sub for Feyenoord.
77′- The Feyenoord fans are going crazy at the referee and Leandro Paredes as the Argentine goes down after a clash with David Hancko. The referee blows for a free kick for Roma which has not gone down well.
78′- Slot is about to use up the final of his five substitutions with another double change.
81′- De Rossi looks to make a change of his own and brings on Zeki Celik for his 50th Roma appearance.
UPDATE: RED CARD SPARTA PRAHA (Matej Rynes)
85′- Feyenoord are enjoying a lot of the ball late on this game but are not really doing anything to trouble Roma. Edoardo Bove has had enough of their possession and picks up a costly yellow card which means he will be suspended for the return leg.
87′- Ironically it is Bove and Dybala who are set to be replaced by De Rossi. What a cheap yellow card to get for Bove.
UPDATE: RED CARD YOUNG BOYS (Mohamed Camara)
89′- HUGE CHANCE for Jiminez who sees his shot strongly stopped by Svilar. The Mexican has looked in the mood since he has come on. Feyenoord have a free kick in a dangerous area now as the fourth official holds up seven added minutes…
90+1′- OFF THE WOODWORK! Svilar is caught out with the free kick as Luka Ivanusec whips the ball to the near post but connects with the frame of the goal. So unlucky for the Croatian.
UPDATE: SHAKHTAR DONETSK vs MARSEILLE (1-2) – (Scored by Iliman Ndiaye)
UPDATE: SHAKHTAR DONETSK vs MARSEILLE (2-2) – (Scored by Eguinaldo assisted by Oleksandr Zubkov)
UPDATE: GALATASARAY vs SPARTA PRAHA (3-2) – (Scored by Mauro Icardi assisted by Baris Alper Yilmaz)
90+5′- Feyenoord are finishing the stronger of the two sides here, pressing for that goal advantage to take into the second leg but nothing is coming off. Time is running out….
FULL TIME: It finishes all square in Rotterdam. Paixao’s goal on the stroke of half time was cancelled out by a Romelu Lukaku goal scored with his shoulder. A vital result for Roma to take back to the Stadio Olimpico when the two sides meet again. De Rossi will be delighted with his team’s performance away from home, whilst Arne Slot will be left to feel a little frustrated with his side’s lack of cutting-edge in front of goal. One thing is for sure, the game is beautifully poised for the second leg in Rome. It will be a cracker!
Embed from Getty ImagesELSEWHERE:
