Sabasports Match Preview
Europa League: Feyenoord vs Roma
Kickoff Time: 2024-02-16 01:45(HKT)
Source:REUTERS/ALBERTO LINGRIA
It’s a replica of the 2021-22 European Conference Cup final. Feyenoord
finished third in the Champions League group stage and subsequently moved to
the knockout stages of the Europa League. Throughout the season, Feyenoord have
displayed consistent performance, remaining unbeaten in their last nine
official matches. However, they currently find themselves trailing PSV
Eindhoven by 10 points in the league, making it highly unlikely for them to
clinch the title. As a result, their focus is likely to shift towards the cup
competition. Feyenoord are renowned for their solid defensive tactics, having
conceded the second-fewest goals in the Eredivisie, with only PSV Eindhoven
performing better in this regard. They place great emphasis on overall
defensive organization and cooperation, employing pressing and active stealing
tactics. During matches, their defensive line remains compact, while the
midfielders maintain constant vigilance in order to limit the opponent’s
offensive threats and minimize scoring opportunities. In terms of the lineup,
the most formidable player for Feyenoord is 20-year-old center Santiago
Gimenez. He has been in exceptional form, having scored 19 goals and provided
four assists in the Eredivisie. Santiago Gimenez is a strong contender for the
league’s Golden Boot award, showcasing his prowess as a goal-scoring threat.
Roma secured their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League
by finishing second in their group. However, their performance in the league
was subpar, leading to the dismissal of popular manager Jose Mourinho in
mid-January. Daniele De Rossi, a star player for Roma in the past, took over as
his successor. This marked De Rossi’s first coaching experience in one of the
top five leagues. Unlike Mourinho, who often emphasized the team’s lack of
strength in terms of the lineup, De Rossi highlighted Roma’s inherent strength
and the talent possessed by the players. He emphasized utilizing space to
exploit opponents’ weaknesses. Since De Rossi took charge, Roma have earned
nine points in four league matches; but the victories have not been entirely
convincing. Roma faced Verona, Salernitana, and Cagliari, who are currently
positioned in the bottom three in Serie A. In these matches, Roma allowed their
opponents more than 10 shots each, indicating that they did not dominate
convincingly. From a tactical perspective, under De Rossi, Roma changed their
formation and focused on a more possession-based style of play. They aimed to
bypass opponents’ pressing by moving the ball quickly. While this tactic has
proven effective against weaker teams, it exposes shortcomings in terms of a
low passing success rate when facing stronger opponents with established
tactics. For instance, in their recent league match against Inter, Roma’s
midfielders had a passing success rate of less than 90%. This indicates that De
Rossi’s coaching tenure has been relatively short, and their tactics have not
fully developed or solidified.
The knockout rounds of European competitions indeed require teams to
demonstrate their on-the-spot experience and tactical prowess. Based on this,
it seems there are concerns about Daniele De Rossi’s coaching experience and
Roma’s tactical shortcomings. It is believed that Feyenoord, known for their
solid defense, may have the advantage in the upcoming game.
Feyenoord’s Last 5 Games: WWWDW
24-02-12 Feyenoord 2-0 Sparta Rotterdam
24-02-08 Feyenoord 2-0 AZ Alkmaar
24-02-04 AZ Alkmaar 0-1 Feyenoord
24-01-28 Feyenoord 0-0 FC Twente
24-01-25 Feyenoord 1-0 PSV Eindhoven
Roma’s Last 5 Games: LWWWW
24-02-11 Roma 2-4 Inter
24-02-06 Roma 4-0 Cagliari
24-01-30 Salernitana 1-2 Roma
24-01-25 Al Shabab 1-2 Roma
24-01-21 Roma 2-1 Verona
Head To Head Record:
23-04-21 Roma 2-1 Feyenoord (AET 4-1)
23-04-14 Feyenoord 1-0 Roma
22-05-26 Roma 1-0 Feyenoord
15-02-27 Feyenoord 1-2 Roma
15-02-20 Roma 1-1 Feyenoord
Prediction: Feyenoord to win