Feyenoord will take on Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League next Thursday. The Rotterdam team will have to get three points in their own stadium to keep an eye on the intermediate round of the European tournament. Robin van Persie also receives good news, because top scorer Ayase Ueda is available again.
Van Persie can no longer count on Justin Bijlow in goal, who left for Italian Genoa last Tuesday. Timon Wellenreuther has thus definitively won the battle for the position of first goalkeeper. The German goalkeeper will most likely have the following four defenders in front of him: Jordan Lotomba, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Jordan Bos.
While the choice in midfield was enormous at the start of the season, it has now decreased somewhat. Quinten Timber has left for Olympique Marseille and Jakub Moder is on his way back from his back injury, but not yet fully fit. Oussama Targhalline has just returned from the Africa Cup, which means that Van Persie will most likely start with In-Beom Hwang, Luciano Valente and Sem Steijn in the starting line-up.
Van Persie has Ayase Ueda at his disposal in the front line. The centre-forward only scored one goal in the Europa League, but has already scored eighteen in the Eredivisie. He is expected to start during rush hour. Next to him, Anis Hadj Moussa, despite cramp complaints against Sparta, and Leo Sauer will appear from kick-off.
Next Thursday at 6:45 PM, the Rotterdam team will kick off in De Kuip for the last Europa League home game of the competition phase. Feyenoord must deal with Sturm Graz at home if Feyenoord wants to keep an eye on the next phase of the tournament. The previous meeting with the Austrians ended in a 6-0 victory.
Presumed Feyenoord line-up (4-3-3): Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Ahmedhodzic, Watanabe, Bos; Hwang, Valente, Steijn; Hadj Moussa, Ueda, Sauer.
