Feyenoord swings past Heerenveen and is ready for Celtic | Premier League

Celtic’s scouts will not return to Glasgow with the most reassuring reports. Feyenoord is running more and more smoothly and scored again after the 6-1 against Almere City and the 1-5 against FC Utrecht. Heerenveen, which played 0-0 in De Kuip last season, was completely outclassed and sent back to Friesland 6-1.

Feyenoord’s start was in top gear. Or at least the Heerenveen players must have experienced it that way. Luka Ivanusec opened the ball by coming in from the left and shooting the ball flawlessly via the post behind Andries Noppert.

The Croat had not yet celebrated his goal when Heerenveen again bowed deeply to the Rotterdam team. Mats Wieffer only appeared in front of the Frisians’ goal on a pass from Santiago Giménez. The midfielder finished beautifully. And eight minutes after the opening goal, Quilindschy Hartman easily found Igor Paixao, who nicely found the corner next to Noppert.

In the Kuip there were ‘oo’ and ‘aaahh’, it was so easy for the Feyenoord players to find each other. But after the 3-0 and after a huge opportunity that Giménez missed, Heerenveen got the chance to keep the ranks a little more closed. And Simon Olsson was even allowed to give something back. The Heerenveen midfielder easily turned away from Quinten Timber and shot the ball past Timon Wellenreuther in the long corner.

That goal was not a prelude to more for the Frisians. Feyenoord remained lord and master. The visitors, without Sven van Beek after the break, were initially lucky that the score did not rise higher. Timber had the ball to tap in but pushed the ball wide.

Arne Slot decided to bring some fresh blood into the team, perhaps also with a view to Feyenoord’s return to the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The trainer of the reigning national champion first saw Giménez score. Ivanusec gave Hartman, who was sprinting around the outside, the ball and the Mexican only had to push the ball over the goal line.

Immediately after that goal, Yankuba Minteh came into the team for the striker. It was striking that the Gambian played at the point of attack. Slot had hinted on Friday that Paixao will be central to the attacking line on Tuesday against Celtic if Ayase Ueda (injured) and Giménez (suspended) are unavailable. But with the last half hour on the board, Slot opted for Ivanusec and Paixao on the flanks and Minteh in the point with Stengs at his back.

The Gambian soon had success as well. Paixao passed Mats Köhlert who defended as if he were in the fifth division of amateur football. The Brazilian’s cross was smoothly deposited into the far corner by Minteh: 5-1.

Slot brought Paixao, Ivanusec and Timber to the side and gave Leo Sauer, Ramiz Zerrouki and Ondrej Lingr the chance for playing time. The Czech, who played for the first time in De Kuip, was allowed to try as a striker this time and he was also immediately accurate. Lingr shot the ball past Noppert in the far corner and celebrated big time.

And so the audience left the Kuip enthusiastically and with their chests up. The stadium where it will be packed to the rafters again on Tuesday evening when Celtic visit. Heerenveen is not Celtic, that is clear. But Feyenoord is in shape and could start their return to the million-dollar ball with a three-pointer. Even without Giménez and Ueda, Feyenoord seems capable of scoring goals. Minteh was a striker for a moment and scored and Lingr also only needed a short time to strike from that position.