Feyenoord faces NEC Nijmegen today in a crucial Eredivisie clash. But with a packed schedule and a growing injury list, can they maintain their focus on both the league and their upcoming Europa League match against Celtic?
Injury Woes Plague Feyenoord
Harry van der Laan, speaking on FC Rijnmond, expressed concerns about Feyenoord's title chances due to persistent injuries. "Feyenoord has too many injuries, and it keeps happening. PSV is just a bit too strong. I would focus all efforts on Celtic, to ensure progress in Europe after January. That also generates a lot of money."
The absence of key players like Trauner and Hwang is a significant blow to Feyenoord's squad depth. Can they overcome these challenges and secure a vital win against NEC?
Balancing Priorities: League vs. Europe
Dennis van Eersel believes Feyenoord manager Arne Slot will have to carefully consider his team selection for the NEC game, keeping the Celtic match in mind. "I think Van Persie has to take into account which players he fields. If he fields a player today, he might not be available on Thursday. I imagine he'll calculate and field his strongest team against Celtic. They simply have to win that game, otherwise they're in trouble."
A Look Back at Feyenoord vs. NEC History
Historically, Feyenoord has a strong home record against NEC, winning 34 of their 51 encounters. However, NEC has proven to be a tricky opponent. A memorable match in the 2021/2022 season saw Feyenoord win 5-3 after a late comeback, with Guus Til scoring twice. More recently, Feyenoord defeated NEC in the TOTO KNVB Beker final.
Will history repeat itself, or can NEC pull off an upset? Kick-off is soon – stay tuned for updates!