Feyenoord does not reward itself in Rome: one expensive mistake leads to defeat at dogged Lazio

Once again Feyenoord can receive compliments for the good, neat field play. But again the club sells itself short in a major European away match, just like in the match against Atlético Madrid a month ago. Now Feyenoord lost 1-0 to Lazio in Rome after a nice battle.

This means Feyenoord drops from first to third place in group E, with only the first two qualifying for the eighth finals. Although there is still plenty of prospect of wintering in the Champions League, with the home game against leader Atlético Madrid (November 28) and the away game against the already almost eliminated Celtic (December 13) to go.

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot notes before kick-off that the grass in Stadio Olimpico is on the long side. Possibly done deliberately by the home club to make the fast, neat combination football that Feyenoord showed in Rotterdam more difficult. The fact that the field is very wet does not help the ball tempo either.

In front of half-full stands, the dogged Lazio turned it into a tough, physical match. Feyenoord seems overwhelmed, is very restless in the passing, cannot get a rhythm. In that opening phase, it hardly resembles the team that had “embarrassed” Lazio two weeks ago in Rotterdam, as Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri put it after the 3-1 defeat. “For me they are among the most aggressive teams in Europe.”

Rest after inserting Trauner

Now right back Bart Nieuwkoop was given a yellow card after 45 seconds, due to a foul on Mattia Zaccagni, who had escaped. The Zeeland defender continues to have a hard time. And after fifteen minutes he unfortunately bumps into Elseid Hysaj, their heads hitting each other hard. Nieuwkoop leaves the field on a stretcher, central defender Gernot Trauner takes his place, causing captain Lutsharel Geertruida to move to the right zone.

That change helps Feyenoord. With the experienced Trauner as a resting point at the back, the build-up goes better. Which leads to a big opportunity after half an hour. Midfielder Quinten Timber gives a nice through pass to striker Santiago Giménez, whose diagonal shot is tapped just wide by goalkeeper Ivan Provedel. Followed five minutes later by a brilliant attack down the left flank that ended with a shot wide from Igor Paixao.

Feyenoord has control in midfield and always finds a free man, just like in the home game. But just when nothing seems to be wrong, things go wrong shortly before half time.

Timber dribbles freely across midfield, until he gets stuck on Matias Vecino. That naivete is immediately punished. Lazio escapes when the defensive organization is away from Feyenoord. Felipe Anderson passes deep to striker Ciro Immobile, who rounds goalkeeper Justin Bijlow and shoots into the empty goal – his 200th goal for Lazio. Because Geertruida is stuck in the back, he lifts the offside trap.

Kansen Giménez in Ueda

Feyenoord remains in control in the second half and is positionally stronger. It combines like crazy, gets some chances. The biggest is a header by Giménez, from a free kick by Paixao, but the Mexican striker sees his effort go just wide. In that phase, halfway through the second half, we have to wait for the equalizer.

But Lazio holds on, through classic Italian defending. Feyenoord is not decisive enough, with the final piece being a header from substitute Ayase Ueda that is stopped in the last second by goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.

For example, Feyenoord has to accept its third defeat in more than a year in Rome, after losing in the group stage of the Europa League against Lazio last season, followed by the elimination against AS Roma in the quarter-finals. Just like against the fellow townsman, this one will feel sour – once again there was more to it.

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