Feyenoord suffered an expensive defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday when they visited SS Lazio. The Rotterdam team lost 1-0 and therefore fell from first to third place in group E.
Lazio top scorer Ciro Immobile scored the only goal in injury time of the first half. It was the only shot on target for the home team, in a match that Feyenoord did not have to lose given the look of the game. Two weeks ago, Feyenoord won 3-1 against the number ten of Serie A in De Kuip.
Deep into injury time, Feyenoord was still very close to the equalizer. A cross from substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh ended up on the head of another substitute, Ayase Ueda. But the Japanese could not place his header in the corner and headed straight into the hands of Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel from close range.
Due to the defeat, Feyenoord has to take a step back in the Champions League. Coach Arne Slot’s team still has a good chance of qualifying for the knockout phase of the million-dollar event, but points must be scored against Atlético Madrid (at home on November 28) and against Celtic (away on December 13). ).
Atlético seized power in group E by beating Celtic 6-0. That was the biggest victory ever in the Champions League for coach Diego Simeone’s team. Halfway it was 2-0. Antoine Griezmann, Álvaro Morata, Griezmann again, Samuel Lino, Morata again and Saúl scored the goals. Due to a red card from Daizen Maeda, Celtic played almost seventy minutes with ten men.
Feyenoord gets chances before half time through Giménez and Pãixao
Feyenoord experienced a difficult opening phase in Stadio Olimpico, which was only half full. Right back Bart Nieuwkoop had to intervene after 48 seconds in a dangerous attack and was shown a yellow card. Fifteen minutes later, Nieuwkoop again claimed a leading role when he collided with Elseid Hysaj and had to be substituted. Gernot Trauner replaced him.
With Trauner in the team, Feyenoord gained more control over the match. The team from South Rotterdam had the first major opportunity to open the score after more than half an hour through Santiago Giménez. The top scorer of the Eredivisie received the ball in the barrel from Calvin Stengs and immediately took a swing. Provedel made a nice save to prevent Giménez from hitting the far corner.
Five minutes later Feyenoord was close to scoring again. Igor Paixão picked up the ball in the penalty area after a nice attack, but shot just wide. What Feyenoord failed to achieve through Giménez and Paixão, Lazio subsequently succeeded. Felipe Anderson sent Immobile towards Justin Bijlow’s goal with a nice pass. The attacker deftly dribbled around the Feyenoord keeper and finished coolly.
1:56Immobile puts Feyenoord behind just before half time
Ueda just can’t force an equalizer
After the break, the game was reminiscent of the match two weeks ago in De Kuip. Feyenoord dictated and forced Lazio back into their own half. The big difference was that Feyenoord did not score this time.
Giménez came close halfway through the second half with a header. A free kick from Paixão was excellently extended by the Mexican, who saw his effort bounce centimeters past the wrong side of the post.
In the seventh minute of injury time, Feyenoord seemed to force the equalizer when Ueda headed the ball in from close range. The attacker headed straight into the hands of Provedel, who made a simple but important save.
It turned out to be the last opportunity of the match for Feyenoord, who again remained without a win in an away match in the Champions League. The last time Feyenoord recorded an away win was more than 21 years ago, at Newcastle United (0-1).
The post first appeared on www.nu.nl