Feyenoord vs. Inter Milan: UCL Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

Feyenoord will host Inter Milan at De Kuip on Wednesday to defeat another Italian powerhouse in the Champions League this season.

The Dutch team nevertheless beat AC Milan in the playoffs last month, even though they fired their management. Now, they get to visit Inter for the opening leg of their round-of-16 match.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

After taking a 1-0 lead at San Siro, Feyenoord miraculously held on to that lead despite playing under Pascal Bosschaart's caretaker management (Pavel Priske had been brutally fired days before).

In the first half, despite the Rotterdam club's lengthy injury list and the fact that their opponent had recently acquired their top scorer, Santiago Gimenez scored an almost certain equalizer. Still, Milan's Theo Hernandez was sent off for diving and got a second yellow card.

With Feyenoord down to ten men, Bosschaart's team advanced thanks to an equalizer scored by flu-stricken Julian Carranza, who had been named to replace Gimenez.

Former striker Robin van Persie had good recollections of meeting Inter, and it was subsequently reported that he would be their third coach after Arne Slot's resignation.  He was an integral part of Feyenoord's 2002 UEFA Cup championship run, appearing in both legs of the semi-final match.

Because of injuries and managerial blunders, the Eredivisie team has used a domestic football record of 36 players this season, and they have lost three of their last eight league matches—the same number as in the preceding fifty.

In Van Persie's first game in charge, Feyenoord played to a scoreless tie at home against NEC Nijmegen. Since then, the team has gone six games without a loss.

The 1970 European champions want to become the fourth side in Champions League history to defeat Milan and Inter in the same continental campaign. They have already reached the last 16 for the first time in the tournament's modern era.

They have a winning record against Serie A teams playing at home, with only one defeat in twelve games (including the match against Inter in the 2001–02 season). This bodes well for their chances of claiming another first-leg advantage.

Inter advanced straight to the round of 16 after finishing fourth in the league phase with the fewest goals allowed in eight matches (one), whereas Wednesday's hosts were forced to play in a playoff.

No coach with 30 or more games played in UEFA's premier event has a better record than Simone Inzaghi, who has preserved a clean sheet in over 60% of his Champions League appearances.

The Nerazzurri have surpassed their immediate predecessors, Napoli, in the battle to defend the Serie A crown, with 26 wins and only five losses in 39 games this season across all competitions.

Inter led by four points with eleven rounds left to play in their Scudetto opponents' final meeting last weekend, thanks to a fantastic Federico Dimarco free kick, but they lost 1–1 at Naples after conceding a late equalizer.

Next month, Inzaghi's players will face city rivals Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final. Despite a somewhat tired performance in which they relied on last-ditch defense and lacked bite in the final third, they are still battling on three fronts.

Inter has fielded the oldest starting eleven in this season's Champions League, with an average age of 29 years and 320 days. This may indicate wear and tear after years of success, but it also brings a wealth of knowledge.

Just three of their previous twenty-three matches in Europe's top tournament have ended in defeat for the three-time winners and runners-up from just two years ago.  They have also won their last 11 matches against Dutch teams since their 2002 setback to Feyenoord so that they can handle this challenge.

Feyenoord x Inter Milan Team News

Robin van Persie, the new manager of Feyenoord, may start some of the club's youthful stars, including Zepiqueno Redmond and Givairo Read, who both began their careers at San Siro over a hectic stretch of five games spread out over sixteen days.

On Wednesday, however, when eleven guys may be out injured, Read is required to serve a ban.  Ayase Ueda, Gernot Trauner, Hwang In-beam, Bart Nieuwkoop, Calvin Stengs, first-choice goalkeeper Justin Bijlow, captain Quinten Timber, and midfielders Antoni Milambo and Jakub Moder are all sidelined with injuries.

Igor Paixao, a Brazilian winger who has been personally involved in six goals in ten Champions League games this season—tying a club record—will be available to help Julian Carranza, the lone striker.

As for Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, 'El Toro' is tied with Sandro Mazzola on 17 goals, but he has a chance to become the club's all-time leading scorer in the Champions League or European Cup.

Due to muscle ailments, Simone Inzaghi will be missing Carlos Augusto, Matteo Darmian, Federico Dimarco, and Nicola Zalewski, four wing-backs who were expected to start up front with Marcus Thuram.

Yann Sommer, the starting goalie, is also out. However, there is a center-back alternative in the form of Stefan de Vrij, a Dutchman who joined Feyenoord when he was ten years old and went on to great success in Italy.

Although no Inter players are on suspension this week, the second leg would be forfeited if Nicolo Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Benjamin Pavard, or Kristjan Asllani received a yellow card.

Our Predictions

Inter Milan to win @ 1.57 on Sky247.ng

With victories against Bayern Munich and Milan in their last two Champions League matches at De Kuip, the hosts are undoubtedly a formidable opponent.

However, Inter's enormous reservoirs of nous and experience might prove too much for a weakened team, and they'll have a deficit to make up next week.

Elevate your betting experience with SKY247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.