Feyenoord will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat over the weekend as they prepare to welcome FC Volendam to De Kuip on Thursday.
Match Preview
Feyenoord’s title challenge has suffered a severe setback after experiencing only their third domestic home defeat of the season against PSV Eindhoven.
With a 10-point gap between them and the league leaders, their chances of defending the title are now in serious doubt.
Despite entering December, Feyenoord’s recent form has been far from impressive. The loss against PSV adds to their woes after being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid last midweek.
This string of losses is a surprising turn of events for a team that’s accustomed to regular victories. The defeat at home is particularly shocking since De Kuip is often considered a fortress for Feyenoord.
However, after seven consecutive wins, they have now suffered back-to-back losses on their home turf.
Fortunately, improved performances from Dutch clubs in Europe mean that second place in the Eredivisie secures an automatic Champions League group stage spot. Although the title seems out of reach, Slot’s side still has plenty to fight for.
Feyenoord has been far from underwhelming this season, with an average of three goals per game and 32 points from 14 matches. The brilliance of their rival, PSV, has overshadowed their achievements so far.
On the other hand, FC Volendam is unlikely to pose a significant threat to Feyenoord. The visitors have failed to win on their trips to De Kuip since 1989.
Furthermore, four out of their last seven visits have resulted in conceding five goals. However, last season’s encounter saw them lose 2-1, with a late own goal by Damon Mirani after leading at halftime.
This campaign has been even more challenging for Volendam, especially after suffering a 5-0 defeat at home to Zwolle over the weekend.
Matthias Kohler’s job as coach is now at serious risk. Currently level on points with Vitesse in the bottom two, Volendam has the worst defensive record in the division.
With four consecutive losses, including one against an amateur side in the cup, they find themselves five points adrift from safety.
Their struggles have been magnified in away games, as they haven’t won on the road since January 8, 2023, against Cambuur, who were eventually relegated.
In the 18 away games since then, Volendam has failed to secure a single victory, suffering 15 defeats. As a result, their chances of success against Feyenoord appear slim.
Feyenoord Eredivisie form: W L W W W L
Feyenoord form (all competitions): W L W W L L
FC Volendam Eredivisie form: W L D L L L
Team News:
Feyenoord may be without Quilindschy Hartman due to concussion following a collision with Jordan Teze during the match against PSV.
The hosts are already dealing with several injuries, including Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Yankuba Minteh, Ayase Ueda, and Bart Nieuwkoop.
Santiago Gimenez, the team’s top scorer, will be eager to make a positive impact after a mixed run of form. He scored a hat-trick against Excelsior but followed it up with an own goal against Atletico.
Despite finding the net against PSV, his efforts were in vain as Feyenoord failed to mount a comeback.
Volendam midfielder Luke Le Roux has yet to make his debut for the club due to injury since joining from Varberg in Sweden.
Koen Blommestijn has been absent throughout the season, and teenager Joey Antonioli has been sidelined for two months with his own injury.
However, Xavier Mbuyamba returned from a six-week absence and could potentially feature in the starting lineup.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Feyenoord: (4-3-3)
Bijlow;
Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman;
Wieffer, Timber, Zerrouki;
Stengs, Gimenez, Ivanusec
FC Volendam: (4-3-3)
Backhaus;
Buur, Mbuyamba, Flint, Cox;
De Haan, Mirani, Twigt;
Ould-Chikh, Muhren, Booth
Prediction:
Feyenoord, despite their recent setback, should dominate against a struggling Volendam side. With Volendam’s poor away record and defensive vulnerabilities, a convincing victory for Feyenoord seems plausible.
- Our Prediction: Feyenoord 5-0 FC Volendam