Beelen and Timber bales © (Box to Box Pictures/Yannick Verhoeven)
Read back, if you fancy it, how Feyenoord’s Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen ended in disappointment. This was a continuation of the weak start to the season.
Read below how the dramatic evening went for the people of Rotterdam.
Feyenoord-Bayer Leverkusen 0-4
44′ 0-4 Wellenreuther (own goal)
Feyenoord line-up: Wellenreuther, Lotomba (61′ Hadj Moussa), Trauner (72′ Mitchell), Beelen, Hancko, Zerrouki (46′ Smal), Timber, Hwang, Milambo (72′ Nadje), Gimenez and Paixão (61′ Ueda)
Bayer Leverkusen line-up: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo, Terrier, Boniface and Wirtz
Follow the Feyenoord-Bayer Leverkusen live blog below:
It’s finally over. Feyenoord and Het Legioen leave after being painted by Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans win 0-4
Another 120 counts to go on this dramatic evening.
Bayer Leverkusen has turned off the gas tap. Feyenoord is still trying, but is simply too small for the German champions. All in all a dramatic evening for the Rotterdammers…
72′ Another goal disallowed for Feyenoord
Feyenoord scores for the 2nd time this evening, but is again disallowed for offside. Ueda was earlier in attack behind the defense and so the goal is disallowed
Feyenoord can almost smell the goal of honour. Hwang sets up the free kick sharply and via the keeper the ball reaches Trauner but is sufficiently obstructed and cannot get to the ball. The score remains 0-4…
59′ Multiple substitutions at Feyenoord
Two changes at Feyenoord. Hadj Moussa and Ueda come in, Lotomba and Paixão go out.
55′ Finally a chance for Feyenoord!
Purely on willpower, Timber pushes through and produces a hard shot. Hradecky can barely stop the ball. Corner for Feyenoord, the first in the second half. The corner is harmless.
51′ Feyenoord tries to limit the damage
The ball keeps going around in the back at a low tempo. Feyenoord keeps holding back and waits for Leverkusen to put pressure. The defense can’t get the ball forward either, because everyone is standing still at Feyenoord.
46′ The second half starts
The match resumes. Hopefully this will be the score. A substitution for the home team. Zerrouki leaves and defender Gijs Smal comes in.
45′ Fortunately, it’s quiet in De Kuip
The referee blows his whistle for half-time, thankfully, because Feyenoord is on its back and can’t keep up with Leverkusen’s pace. It’s important to keep things tight at the back in the second half, otherwise it could be a very painful evening. If it isn’t already…
44′ 4-0 Own goal Wellenreuther
Bayer Leverkusen gives a football lecture to Feyenoord. A free kick disappears via Wellenreuther into the goal. That can be added to that…
An already painful evening for Feyenoord. Florian Wirtz with his 2nd of the evening and the 3rd for Leverkusen. After a quick counter, the German can easily shoot the ball in. It will be limiting the damage for the Rotterdammers.
Feyenoord gets a second goal in the counterattack after Hwang’s chance. Boniface holds the ball well and with a no-look pass he reaches Jeremie Frimpong on the right. He gives the ball to the completely unmarked Grimaldo and leaves Wellenreuther without a chance.
28′ Finally a chance for Feyenoord
The debutant Hwang finds himself free on the edge of the box and takes a concealed shot. The ball lands just wide of goalkeeper Hradecky’s goal.
20′ Feyenoord waits for the right moment
The Rotterdammers are now calmly waiting for their chance to equalize. Feyenoord has not created much besides the offside goal. It is still 1-0 for Bayer Leverkusen.
8′ Feyenoord goal disallowed
A corner from Paixão comes via Hancko to Zerrouki and he taps the ball past Hradecky. Everyone cheers, but the linesman spoils the party. Zerrouki is unfortunately offside.
4′ Leverkusen take the lead
In the fourth minute, Feyenoord simply loses the ball in midfield to Florian Wirtz. The German crosses half the field and slides the ball from the edge of the penalty area simply past Wellenreuther.
1′ The ball rolls into De Kuip
Referee Massa blows the whistle for the starting signal and Feyenoord immediately goes forward.
The players are entering the field, the anthem has started, everyone is tense. What will it be today?
Just a little over fifteen minutes until the Champions League anthem blares through De Kuip. Just a little more counting down.
The players have arrived
The men who have to do it tonight for Feyenoord have arrived at De Kuip. In the meantime, everyone is being warmed up by DJ Panic of course.
Coach Priske sends the following eleven onto the field for the clash against Bayer Leverkusen. Priske opts for a 4-4-2 formation. Compared to the match against FC Groningen, the formation has been changed in four places.
Feyenoord line-up: Wellenreuther, Lotomba, Trauner, Beelen, Hancko, Zerrouki, Timber, Hwang, Milambo, Gimenez and Passion
The Germans’ line-up is also known. Xabi Alonso chooses the following formation:
Bayer Leverkusen line-up: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo, Terrier, Boniface and Wirtz
Everything is ready for a magical evening at De Kuip!