Comments and predictions for Feyenoord vs AC Milan: Easy draw

Making their highly-anticipated debut in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Feyenoord will welcome AC Milan to De Kuip for the first leg of their play-off round on Wednesday.

The Rotterdam club met the seven-time continental champions in 1970, when they progressed from a European Cup tie and went on to lift the trophy; this time, the winner would play either Arsenal or Inter Milan in the round of 16.

Latest Feyenoord vs AC Milan team information

Feyenoord's absentee list is likely to remain unchanged, with Brian Priske all but ruling out Austria defender Gernot Trauner for the third consecutive game, while a number of players remain sidelined.

Timon Wellenreuther is again expected to deputise for injured goalkeeper Justin Bijlow; Calvin Stengs, Chris-Kevin Nadje and Ramiz Zerrouki will also miss out.

In better news for embattled boss Brian Priske, left-back Quilindschy Hartman recently returned from a serious knee injury and played on Saturday, while January signing Jakub Moder has also been registered for the knockout rounds.

Only Atalanta BC's Charles De Ketelaere recorded more assists in the group stage than Brazilian striker Igor Paixao (four), who is expected to support Ayase Ueda or Julian Carranza up front.

In total, Paixao has contributed five goals in the Champions League this season, with only Santiago Gimenez - who averages a goal every 59 minutes in the competition this season - having managed more for Feyenoord (six).

After scoring 65 goals in 105 games for the Dutch club across all competitions, the latter will now compete with Tammy Abraham to lead Milan's attack at De Kuip.

An integral cog in the Rossoneri's attack, Christian Pulisic has scored four goals in the league stage - more than any American in a Champions League campaign - and he will also start.

In addition to Gimenez, the visitors have strengthened their squad by bringing in Kyle Walker, Joao Felix, Riccardo Sottil and Warren Bondo, although the latter duo are not yet registered with UEFA.

Emerson Royal (calf), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (thigh) and Alessandro Florenzi (knee) are all ruled out through injury, while Pulisic's international colleague Yunus Musah is serving a suspension.

Latest expected lineup for Feyenoord vs AC Milan

Feyenoord:

Wellenreuther; Nieuwkoop, Beelen, Hancko, Hartman; Moder, Timber, Hwang; Hadj-Moussa, Ueda, Paixao

AC Milan:

Maignan; Walker, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Felix, Leao; Gimenez

Latest football commentary on Feyenoord vs AC Milan

Making the most of UEFA's new format, Feyenoord reached the knockout stages of Europe's top club competition for the first time since 1985, having finished 19th in the inaugural tournament stage.

An eventful campaign was marked by a shock 3-0 defeat to German giants Bayern Munich - and a dramatic 3-3 draw away to Manchester City - although the Dutch club also suffered a crushing 6-1 defeat to Lille.

Brian Priske's side have almost guaranteed entertainment throughout their eight games, with only those played by Barcelona seeing more goals; however, of the 24 teams that have progressed, they have conceded the most.

Home defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg also made it three losses in their last six European games at De Kuip, after they had been unbeaten in the previous 16.

Last season's Eredivisie runners-up have struggled without former boss Arne Slot this season and current coach Priske was on the brink of being sacked before that brilliant win over Bayern.

They recently lost Der Klassieker to bitter rivals Ajax then were knocked out of the KNVB Beker by league leaders PSV Eindhoven, amid their worst domestic run in nine years.

Only Saturday's 3-0 derby win over Sparta Rotterdam halted a disappointing four-game winless run in the Eredivisie and they have recorded just two clean sheets in their last 15 games.

With such circumstances, at least history will be on their side when Milan come to town: Feyenoord have lost just one of their 11 home meetings with teams from Italy – a 2-1 defeat to familiar foes Roma exactly a decade ago.

Four unsuccessful attempts followed, Milan's last win over their Dutch opponents coming back in 2008 - but a late win on Wednesday would set them up perfectly for next week's return.

While they boast years of experience in Europe, the Italian giants are in the knockout stages of UEFA's top competition for just the second time in the past 11 seasons, after finishing two points and six places above Feyenoord.

After bouncing back from back-to-back defeats, Milan beat the mighty Real Madrid among others and actually held a respectable top eight spot heading into the final matchday; however, defeat to Dinamo Zagreb saw them slide down the table and miss out on direct qualification to the round of 16.

Coach Sergio Conceicao - who lifted the Supercoppa Italiana within a week of his mid-season appointment - may regret that stumble in Croatia, as his new club have a poor away record in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Although they reached the semi-finals in 2023 – eventually escaping to face city rivals Inter, who they could meet again in this year's competition – the Rossoneri have failed to win any of their last 11 away games in the knockout stages, scoring just three goals in their last 10.

Furthermore, Conceicao was hired to boost a talented but inconsistent squad: after finishing in the top two of Serie A for the third time in four seasons, this season they sit seventh.

On Saturday, goals from substitutes Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez – the latter making his league debut after signing from Feyenoord, and now set for a swift return to form for De Kuip – helped 10-man Milan to a 2-0 win over Empoli.

Coming days after a 3-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final success over Roma, it was only their second clean sheet in 12 games, but will give Conceicao something to build on.

Latest Feyenoord vs AC Milan score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match Feyenoord vs AC Milan as follows:

• Sportsmole: Feyenoord 1-1 AC Milan

• WhoScore: Feyenoord 1-2 AC Milan
• Our prediction: Feyenoord 1-1 AC Milan

When and where to watch Feyenoord vs AC Milan live?

To watch live the match Feyenoord vs AC Milan in the Champion League taking place at 3:00 on February 13, viewers can watch on K+ Sport, K+PM or online sports channels. Wishing viewers happy moments of watching football.

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