Feyenoord Faces Willem II in Crucial Eredivisie Clash

TILBURG, Netherlands — Feyenoord is set to face Willem II in a pivotal Eredivisie match on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the Koning Willem II Stadion. The game comes just days after Feyenoord’s 4-1 victory over Rijnsburgse Boys in the KNVB Cup, where coach Brian Priske rested key players ahead of this league encounter.

Priske is expected to reintroduce several starters, including defender David Hancko, who had his streak of 119 consecutive starts broken during the cup match. Hancko will pair with Thomas Beelen in central defense, allowing Gernot Trauner to prepare for the upcoming Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. The backline will likely feature Givairo Read and Gijs Smal, with Justin Bijlow guarding the goal.

Midfield options are limited due to injuries to Quinten Timber and In-Beom Hwang, as well as the absence of Chris-Kevin Nadje. Priske is likely to rely on Ramiz Zerrouki, Antoni Milambo, and Calvin Stengs in the midfield. Gjivai Zechiël, who has been linked with a move to Willem II, is expected to start on the bench.

In attack, Igor Paixão will return to the starting lineup after being rested in the cup match. He will join Anis Hadj-Moussa and top scorer Santiago Gimenez in Feyenoord’s forward line. The probable lineup for Feyenoord includes Bijlow; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Zerrouki, Milambo, Stengs; Hadj-Moussa, Gimenez, Paixão.

Willem II, currently 10th in the Eredivisie standings, will look to capitalize on home advantage. The match kicks off at 8:00 PM local time and is crucial for Feyenoord as they aim to close the gap on league leaders PSV, who are 11 points ahead.

Diego Biseswar, speaking to FC Rijnmond, praised Priske’s approach but noted inconsistencies in Feyenoord’s performances. “The coach spoke in Dutch during the cup match, and I found his message strong,” Biseswar said. “But against Utrecht, they started well and then faded. Priske needs to ensure they play well for the entire match, not just in phases.”

Dennis van Eersel echoed these sentiments, highlighting the challenges of communication and consistency. “There’s always something lost in translation,” Van Eersel said. “But I understood that Priske wasn’t satisfied with the result, even if the data showed more possession and chances.”

Bart Nieuwkoop is set to return to the matchday squad, but Nasser El Khayati expressed confidence in Read over the experienced defender. “If you need a player you can trust and who is fit every week, I’d go for Read,” El Khayati said. Van Eersel added that Nieuwkoop’s frequent injuries might be due to training and playing above his level.

The match is a must-win for Feyenoord as they aim to stay competitive in the Eredivisie race. A victory would also provide momentum ahead of their Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich.