Feyenoord went down at the last minute in Stuttgart despite a great performance

The match against the Germans was interesting in every respect, because there are many parallels with Feyenoord. Both clubs are in a city with 650,000 inhabitants and another one and a half million in the nearby area. They are also in good shape sportingly and financially. The home club’s stadium was filled to the brim with 60,000 spectators on Thursday evening, which is 15,000 more than there are in De Kuip. Feyenoord sold players for around 120 million euros this summer, Stuttgart for 115 million. Both teams have a young, ambitious trainer on the bench.

The value of the selection alone is worth a hundred million euros more at Stuttgart. But that was certainly not visible in the first act. Feyenoord showed up with a lot of flair and self-confidence, dared to take the initiative in the witch’s cauldron of the MHParena and was anything but impressed by the ambiance.

Huge opportunity Hajj Moussa

The visitors should have taken the lead within fifteen minutes. Anis Hadj Moussa was sent off after a splitting pass from Luciano Valente, straight through the Stuttgart defense. In the sixteen-meter area he cut down his opponent after a long sprint, but shot at goalkeeper Alexander Nübel. It was a huge opportunity to land a first blow.

Relive how Feyenoord was defeated in the final phase against VfB Stuttgart

Hadj Moussa, captain in the absence of Sem Steijn, caused the German defenders a lot of problems with his dribbling. But he also had a weak moment, by taking a stupid yellow card before half time. The Algerian international was awarded that for shooting the ball away.

It did not dent his self-confidence, because the Feyenoorders continued to look for him and play him. With Valente as director on the European stage, Feyenoord felt like the superior party in the first hour and the team gave a very mature impression.

One of the most beautiful things to see, which was really hammered home by Van Persie and his assistants René Hake and Etienne Reijnen, was the sprinting back from Stuttgart’s counters. Not two or three, but seven men were constantly giving full throttle.

Just before half time, Hadj Moussa was launched for the second time thanks to a nice deep pass from goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther. Stuttgart defender Max Mittelstädt pulled the emergency brake on the edge of the penalty area. The whole of Feyenoord screamed for a red card, but the Romanian referee Horetia Mircea thought that yellow was sufficient. Hadj Moussa, who had broken through, was knocked down, but a second defender was not far away. It was a questionable moment. The free kick came to nothing, as Hadj Moussa shot into the wall, just like with previous free kicks.

The 3,000 Feyenoord supporters could hardly believe their eyes at so much power in the large and packed Stuttgart stadium. Especially since there were serious concerns beforehand. No Steijn, no Oussama Targhalline, no In-beom Hwang and no Jakub Moder. That was quite an attack on the arsenal of midfielders.

Blow for Feyenoord, In-beom Hwang is also out of circulation until 2026

Cyle Larin at position ’10’

Van Persie solved the problem with Canadian Cyle Larin, who he brought in as striker, whom he put at ’10’, just ahead of Valente and Quinten Timber. An emergency measure? Yes, but one full of bravado. Just as he dared to start with Gonçalo Borges on the left flank and therefore wanted to play with three attackers and an attacking midfielder in a hectic away match. The clarity and fixed structure that he creates from the start ensures that his players know what is expected of them, both at home and away.

The fact that the Germans were on their guard and did not dare to play full attack themselves, also had to do with Feyenoord’s awe because of the 3-0 win over Bayern Munich at the beginning of this year in the Champions League. That was a performance that made an impression throughout Germany.

Max Mittelstädt should have been sent off

In the second half, ‘those Swabians’, as VfB’s nickname is, threatened to be down to ten men. Mittelstädt, who had earlier laid down Hadj Moussa, deliberately extended his arm and conceded a free kick close to his own penalty area. Normally a yellow card, but that didn’t happen.

After Wim Jansen and Coen Moulijn, Feyenoord also honors Leo Beenhakker with a gigantic mural

Referee Mircea gave a yellow card to Givairo Read two minutes later, where the entire stadium shouted for red. But also in his case there was another defender next to him (Anel Ahmedhodzic) when he caught the breaking Bilal El Khannous. The same El Khannous saw how Timon Wellenreuther made a great save to prevent his team from falling behind against the odds.

It remained a fascinating battle in every respect, as Ayase Ueda headed inches wide from Hadj Moussa’s cross and made the home club tremble again.

The final phase costs Feyenoord the lead

A few minutes before the end, El Khannouss struck mercilessly with a header. Wellenreuther had no chance and saw the ball fly in via the crossbar. The Rotterdam team also scored a second goal in extra time. Undav countered to make the home team 2-0.