Preview: Feyenoord vs. Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Dutch champions dropped down from the Champions League, their Italian counterparts finished second in Group G; so with a last-16 place at stake, the clubs now clash for a third successive season.

Match preview

Paired with Roma's city rivals Lazio in the Champions League group stage, last year's Eredivisie winners Feyenoord ultimately finished third behind the Biancocelesti and Atletico Madrid in Group E, with Celtic propping up the final table.

Despite claiming two wins from their first three fixtures, Arne Slot's side stumbled over the line, losing all of the next three - therefore, demotion to Europe's second-tier competition was their fate.

Beaten quarter-finalists last term, Feyenoord have twice lifted the Europa League's predecessor, the UEFA Cup, and were also crowned continental champions back in 1970, so their pedigree is certainly not in doubt.

More recently, the Dutch side have scored in 14 of their last 16 European matches, and they continue to rack up goals in domestic competition: victory in Sunday's Rotterdam derby extended their winning run across Eredivisie and KNVB Cup to nine matches.

Feyenoord sit second in the league table after seeing off Sparta, but they are still 10 points behind runaway leaders PSV, so knockout competition may prove the best route to silverware this season.

Slot will also have revenge in mind, having lost to Roma in the inaugural Europa Conference League final two years ago, before the Rotterdammers were beaten by the same opponents in last season's Europa League quarter-finals.

Victory in Tirana, courtesy of Nicolo Zaniolo's winning goal, earned Roma their first major European trophy in 2022, and a 4-2 aggregate defeat of Feyenoord less than 12 months later sees the Serie A side hold a psychological edge before Thursday's first leg.

Having settled for second place behind Slavia Prague in Group G last autumn, despite collecting 13 points from six games, the 1991 UEFA Cup finalists now face their first continental contest since the departure of controversial coach Jose Mourinho.

After sacking Mourinho last month, Roma had won each of their first three matches under new boss Daniele De Rossi - who incidentally played twice for the Giallorossi against Feyenoord in 2015 - but a recent home defeat to Scudetto favourites Inter Milan left them sixth in the Serie A standings.

De Rossi's new-look side twice led against the rampant league leaders, but Inter ultimately strode to a 4-2 victory at Stadio Olimpico, where Roma are rarely defeated.

Including last season's unsuccessful Europa League final in Budapest, though, the Italian outfit have won just one of their last eight away games in European competition - the opener of this term's campaign, against relative minnows Sheriff Tiraspol.

Roma definitely tend to fare less well on their travels, as they have also lost more than half of their away matches in Serie A thus far, so Feyenoord may fancy their chances of earning a first-leg advantage.

Feyenoord form (all competitions):

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Roma Europa League form:

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Roma form (all competitions):

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Team News

After Quinten Timber suffered a severe concussion in Feyenoord's KNVB Cup clash with AZ earlier this month, it remains to be seen how the hosts' back four will shape up in midweek. Defensive mainstay Gernot Trauner is already sidelined by a hamstring problem, so Thomas Beelen may have to deputise again.

Justin Bijlow will miss the next month with a calf injury, so German goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther continues as the Rotterdammers' last line of defence.

Midfielder Thomas van den Belt is also out of action, but Alireza Jahanbakhsh recently returned from the Asian Cup and could feature on the right flank, in support of top scorer Santiago Gimenez. The latter has 19 goals from 21 league games this season and should displace Ayase Ueda up front.

Meanwhile, Roma's main marksman Romelu Lukaku has only failed to score in one of his last 17 Europa League appearances, netting 20 times across that period. The Belgian striker is just five goals away from Radamel Falcao's all-time record of 30 in the competition.

English striker Tammy Abraham is still unavailable, but his compatriot Chris Smalling recently resumed full training; Evan Ndicka has been celebrating Ivory Coast's success in the Africa Cup of Nations so is unlikely to play.

Bryan Cristante was withdrawn against Inter due to a back problem, possibly opening the door for Edoardo Bove's promotion to the starting XI, which should also include full-back Rick Karsdorp. The Netherlands international made 122 appearances for Feyenoord between 2014 and 2017, plus a later spell on loan.

Often a starter in cup competitions under Jose Mourinho, Mile Svilar may be preferred to Rui Patricio in goal - particularly given the latter's below-par form of late.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:

Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Beelen, Hankco, Hartman; Wieffer, Zerrouki; Jahanbakhsh, Stengs, Paixao; Gimenez

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Karsdorp, Mancini, Llorente, Angelino; Pellegrini, Paredes, Bove; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy

We say: Feyenoord 2-1 Roma

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