Aston Villa faces Feyenoord in a highly anticipated Europa League clash in Rotterdam. Villa manager Unai Emery has described the match as a "special" occasion, referencing Villa's historic 1982 European Cup victory at Feyenoord's De Kuip Stadium against Bayern Munich. Peter Withe's goal secured the win, and Villa returns 43 years later hoping to draw inspiration from that iconic triumph.
"In 1982 Aston Villa won here... That was something very special," Emery stated, emphasizing the emotional connection to the venue for the club and its supporters. He hopes the history will inspire his players to victory against Robin van Persie's Feyenoord.
Feyenoord, despite dropping down from the Champions League qualifiers after a loss to Fenerbahce, remains a formidable opponent. They are currently unbeaten in the Eredivisie and boast a strong home record. Emery acknowledged Feyenoord's strength, noting their history in European competitions and their impressive Champions League performance last season.
Team Form and Predictions
Feyenoord will be looking to bounce back from their Europa League opening defeat to Braga. They are strengthened by the return of Anel Ahmedhodzic in defence, although they will be without Malcolm Jeng due to injury.
Aston Villa, after a challenging start to the Premier League season, hopes the Europa League can provide a boost. Their win against Bologna in the group stage preceded their first Premier League victory against Fulham. John McGinn faces a late fitness test.
Expert Predictions
Experts predict a tightly contested match. A draw is considered a likely outcome, with under 2.5 goals expected. Ayase Ueda is tipped as a potential anytime goalscorer.
Key Match Points:
- Aston Villa's historic connection to De Kuip Stadium.
- Feyenoord's strong home form and Eredivisie record.
- Villa's need for a positive result after a slow Premier League start.
- Potential for a low-scoring draw.
This promises to be a captivating Europa League encounter with both teams eager to secure a vital win.