- Feyenoord earned a 1-0 victory over Milan in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie
- Igor Paixão capitalised on a Mike Maignan error to give the Dutch side an early lead
- Milan must overturn the deficit in the second leg to reach the Round of 16, where Inter or Arsenal await
Key Takeaways:
Feyenoord secured a 1-0 victory over Milan in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie, taking an important advantage ahead of the return fixture in Italy. The Dutch side came into the game under new management after parting ways with Brian Priske following three consecutive defeats, with Pascal Bosschaart stepping in as head coach. Milan, meanwhile, started Santiago Giménez, bringing the striker back to face his former club, where he received a warm welcome from the home supporters.
Feyenoord hang on in De Kuip and beat Milan pic.twitter.com/KJsegF2Xl8
— 433 (@433) February 12, 2025
Feyenoord made a perfect start, taking the lead in the 3rd minute through Igor Paixão, who capitalised on an error by Mike Maignan. The Dutch side pressed aggressively and created several dangerous attacks, nearly extending their lead before halftime.
Milan struggled to create clear opportunities throughout the match and will now have to overturn the result at “Giuseppe Meazza” to progress to the Round of 16, where Inter or Arsenal await. The “Rossoneri” remain winless in their last 12 away games in the Champions League knockout stages and have not beaten a Dutch side since 2008.
Feyenoord has already delivered some notable performances in the tournament, including a 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich and a dramatic comeback in a 3-3 draw against Manchester City. Historically, they have been strong at home against Italian opposition, with only one defeat in such encounters. The club’s last meeting with Milan in the Champions Cup was in 1970, the year they lifted the trophy.