Feyenoord travel to FC Barcelona on Wednesday evening for their opening Champions League fixture, with manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst expected to deploy attacking midfielder Anis Hadj Moussa on the right flank. The Dutch winger, who recently saw a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad collapse, has recovered from disciplinary issues that cost him a place in Feyenoord's recent Eredivisie clash against NEC and is primed to feature at Spotify Camp Nou.
Van Bronckhorst's lineup shows stability across the pitch, with goalkeeper Tjark Ernst starting between the posts. The defence will feature a familiar quartet: Givairo Read on the right, Jeremiah St. Juste and Tsuyoshi Watanabe in central positions, and Mika Mármol on the left. The midfield trio of Gjivai Zechiël, Charles Vanhoutte and Luciano Valente will anchor play, providing support for the attacking unit that pairs striker Nacho Ferri with wingers Hadj Moussa and Gaoussou Diarra.
Squad Availability and Selection
Feyenoord's Champions League campaign has been hit by administrative complications, with English forward Reiss Nelson unavailable due to work permit issues. Oussama Targhalline remains an option from the bench, while Jerayno Schalken, who impressed in domestic competition, has travelled to Barcelona as additional cover.
Kick-off is scheduled for 18:45 CET and will be broadcast live on Ziggo Sport. This opening European fixture represents a significant test for the Rotterdam side, who will need to navigate Barcelona's home advantage while managing squad depth concerns. Hadj Moussa's availability adds attacking impetus to Van Bronckhorst's attacking setup, which will be crucial for competing at this elite level.
