Feyenoord, who will be crowned Dutch champions for the 16th time in 2023, had to settle for second place behind PSV Eindhoven last season despite finishing two points clear of the leaders 12 months earlier.

The Rotterdam club did claim the KNVB Beker as a consolation prize, but title-winning coach Arne Slot left for Liverpool and Brian Priske was brought in from Sparta Prague.

The Danish coach has taken just one win from four league games, having started his reign with a penalty shoot-out victory over Ajax in the Johan Cruijff Shield, and after letting victory slip through his fingers at Groningen last week, his side now trail PSV by nine points.

Feyenoord, who are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2002, have made only two appearances in the last 22 years and will be aiming to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time - although they did win the European Cup in 1970.

Last season, Slot's side finished third in Group E before being relegated to the Europa League, where they lost on penalties to old rivals Roma in the knockout rounds. It was the third time in a row they had been knocked out of Europe by the Giallorossi, including a defeat in the inaugural Europa Conference League final.

With some tough fixtures in this season's revamped competition, Feyenoord will be happy to start their latest campaign at De Kuip, where they have lost just once in their last 18 European games, winning 14 of them.

The only blemish on an otherwise flawless 2023-24 campaign was Bayer Leverkusen's defeat to Atalanta BC in the Europa League final, just short of adding another European trophy to their 1988 UEFA Cup triumph.

That year, the Werkself defeated Feyenoord in the third round on their way to glory in what remains the only competitive meeting between the clubs to date.

Last season, Leverkusen's relentless performances and last-gasp heroics earned them plaudits in both the Bundesliga and Europe, and although they were eventually beaten by Atalanta, they had already won their first German title and later added the DFB-Pokal to their tally.

Xabi Alonso's stylish side also finished top of their Europa League group with maximum points before beating three teams, including Roma, to reach the knockout stages. The defeat in Dublin was their only defeat in 53 games in all competitions, 43 of which ended in victory.

Leverkusen were playing in the Champions League for only the third time in eight seasons, the last time being two years ago when they finished third in their group before slipping into the Europa League. They reached the semi-finals before losing to none other than Roma.

The 1-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico remains the German side's only defeat in their last 11 European away games - a run of seven wins - and despite the recent slip-up against Leipzig, Xabi Alonso and Co will be confident of making a quick start in midweek.

Ultimately, they will be looking to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2017, and having finally shaken off their old nickname of 'Never-kusen', they may even believe that a place in the final, hosted by Munich, is within their grasp.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:

Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Timber, Zechiel; Nieuwkoop, Nadje, Paixao; Gimenez

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:

Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface

Prediction:Feyenoord 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen

Feyenoord VS Bayer Leverkusen stream and TV listing

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