Feyenoord vs Leverkusen odds, prediction, pick: Champions League live stream, where to watch, what to know
Bayer Leverkusen kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign against Feyenoord on Thursday and will go into this year’s new edition as the German title holders. Xabi Alonso’s side dethroned Bayern Munich from the top and will begin their campaign against last year’s Eredivisie runners-up in one of the early kick-offs at De Kuip.
Dutch champions in 2023, Feyenoord finished behind PSV Eindhoven last season, despite being on more points than PSV for their 16th Dutch title in history last year. The Rotterdam giants won the KNVB Beker but Arne Slot moved to Liverpool and was replaced by Brian Priske who came from Sparta Praha. It has been difficult so far for the Danes, winning just one of four Eredivisie games as well as Johan Cruyff Shield success over Ajax and a nine-point gap to PSV may already be too much. They are back in the UCL again for their second straight campaign, which is a first since 2002 – the 1970 European Cup winners have featured in this competition only twice in the last 22 years.
Apart from Leverkusen’s loss to Atalanta in the Europa League final, this was a great match for Die Werkself, who are 1988 UEFA Cup winners and beat Feyenoord in the third round that year. This was their only previous competitive meeting and the DFB Pokal winners will look to compete in this year’s new-look UCL, having enjoyed a deep European run under Alonso so far. It is only the third match in eight seasons at this level, but one defeat in 11 away games in Europe will make this match a tough one on the road to Munich – and therefore a German final – starting here.
Here’s our storyline, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- date: Thursday, September 19 | Time: 12:45 PM ET
- Place: De Kuip – Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- odds: Feyenoord +333; Draw +320; Leverkusen -138
League Phase
Feyenoord: Bayer Leverkusen (home), Girona (away), Benfica (away), RB Salzburg (home), Manchester City (away), Sparta Praha (home), Bayern Munchen (home) and Lille (away).
Leverkusen: Feyenoord (away), Milan (home), Brest (away), Liverpool (away), RB Salzburg (home), Inter (home), Atletico Madrid (away) and Sparta Praha (home).
Team News
Feyenoord: Lutsharel Gertruida has also left along with Arne Slot who now plays for RB Leipzig in Germany. Feyenoord have kept Santiago Gimenez and he should start while Jordan Lotomba and Hwang In-Beom could also play. However, Calvin Stengs and Hugo Bueno are both injured. Gernot Trauner returned to action at the weekend and should be fit enough for the bench.
Probable Feyenoord XI: Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Beelen, Hanko, Small; Timber, Zechiel; Nieuwkoop, Nadje, Paixao; Jimenez.
Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso has almost the entire squad available, with only Exequiel Palacios requiring a late fitness test. Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick will dispute the starting role up top, while Robert Andrich or Alex Garcia will hope to pair with captain Granit Xhaka in the middle. Florian Wirtz will make his awaited Champions League debut and the Germany international has chipped in with 12 goals and 12 assists in other UEFA competitions.
Probable Leverkusen XI: Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface.
Prediction
Expect this to be a tight match, but Leverkusen will win it comfortably. A draw would not be a surprise, but the Germans should have enough to win by one goal. choose: Feyenoord 1, Leverkusen 2.
