Preview: Feyenoord vs Bayern Munich,Champions League League Stage
- Soccer News 2025/01/21 07:48
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Despite being the third-most prolific team in the 2024-25 Champions League behind only Barcelona (21) and Borussia Dortmund (18), 17-goal Bayern Munich have work to do if they are to avoid the rigmarole of a two-legged playoff contest to make the last-16 stage.
Kompany's troops are one point adrift of the automatic qualification spots on account of their defeats away to Aston Villa and Barcelona, which they have since responded to with three straight successes over Shakhtar, Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain.
Even without Harry Kane up to his usual tricks in the final third against Shakhtar, Kompany witnessed five different players find the back of the net, and the reigning Bundesliga champions have also been on the warpath domestically in recent weeks.
Either side of the Bundesliga's international break, Wednesday's visitors have beaten RB Leipzig, Borussia Monchengladbach, Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg in consecutive contests, thus maintaining a four-point lead over holders Bayer Leverkusen at the summit of the table.
Bayern also have an unbeaten 21st century sequence to prolong in Rotterdam this week, as since going down 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven in October 1999, the Bavarians have navigated each of their last eight Champions League games against Dutch sides without losing.
Officially holding the title of the most entertaining team in this season's Champions League, Feyenoord come into the penultimate matchday having seen more goals in their games than any of the other 35 teams involved in the league phase.
Indeed, the Eredivisie powerhouses have struck 14 goals of their own while letting in an additional 15, and no Champions League match involving Feyenoord this season has ended with fewer than four goals being scored.
Brian Priske's side successfully fought fire with fire against Sparta Prague on December 11, triumphing 4-2 to position themselves smack-bang in the middle of the table in 18th place, although results on Tuesday could bump them further down the standings.
As Bayern excel domestically, though, Feyenoord have been found wanting over the winter period, failing to win any of their last three Eredivisie matches and only managing a 1-1 draw away to mid-table Willem II on Saturday.
That stalemate also marked the 10th game in a row that Feyenoord have failed to keep a clean sheet, a particularly bad omen before having to pit their wits against Bayern, whom they have not shared a field with since a 3-1 win for the German side in the 2001-02 group stage.
Bayern received a positive injury update over long-term absentee Joao Palhinha before their five-goal thriller with Wolfsburg, as the Portuguese midfielder took part in partial training following a muscular issue, but a comeback on Wednesday is unrealistic.
Ankle victim Sacha Boey might also be spared despite also making strong progress in his rehabilitation, while Hiroki Ito (ankle) and Daniel Peretz (illness) remain unavailable for the time being too.
An appearance for Kane on Wednesday will see the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man play his 50th game in the Champions League, where he could become just the third English player to score in their half-century match after Wayne Rooney and Phil Foden.
As for Feyenoord, Priske's men risk welcoming Bayern to their patch with a decimated midfield, as Ramiz Zerrouki was unable to complete the full 90 minutes and joins Quinten Timber (knee) and Hwang In-beom (unspecified) on the touch-and-go list.
Jordan Lotomba (leg injury), Bart Nieuwkoop (hip problem), and Chris - Kevin Nadje (with an unspecified issue) are currently under medical care. Additionally, defender David Hancko, who has been associated with Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, was absent from the draw against Willem due to illness.
Nevertheless, the Rotterdam - based team has relatively few worries in the attacking department. Prolific striker Santiago Gimenez is expected to be accompanied by Igor Paixao and Anis Hadj Moussa on either side once more.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Bueno, Trauner, Hancko, Smal; Stengs, Zechiel, Milambo; Moussa, Gimenez, Paixao
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Kane
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