Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Bayer Leverkusen's return to the Champions League sees them travel to Rotterdam, where Feyenoord will aim to cause problems for the German champions. Leverkusen might concede a few defensive lapses, but they are likely to be more successful in attack than their opponents.
Feyenoord Rotterdam
A high-scoring victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup (5:4 after the penalty shootout) demonstrated that Feyenoord will not abandon Arne Slot's open and aggressive style. Under Brian Priske, they have already dropped points three times in the Eredivisie, having managed to defeat only PEC Zwolle (5:1) in four rounds. Despite the excellent form of Igor Paixão and Santiago Gimenez (both 2+1), the team has struggled to consistently earn points due to their weak defence, conceding a total of nine goals in five official matches.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
During the same stretch of five matches since the start of the season, Bayer Leverkusen have scored 12 goals. After their recent victory over TSG Hoffenheim (4:1), the team was the first in the Bundesliga to surpass the 10+ xG mark (10.08). Following the controversy in the last round, Victor Boniface will likely seek to redeem himself with a strong performance, though the Nigerian already performed impressively (2+1 against Hoffenheim).
Feyenoord Rotterdam vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen will have significantly more opportunities to defeat Feyenoord, as squad quality often becomes crucial in such encounters. However, it's better to bet on goals from the visitors. Leverkusen are certain to score at least two goals in Rotterdam.
