Feyenoord v Inter Milan: three bets to consider as both sides fight for Champions League survival

Feyenoord and Inter Milan meet at De Kuip on Tuesday with both sides needing victory after collecting only three points from their opening three Champions League matches.

The two former European champions are in danger of missing out on the knockout phase as the league phase reaches its halfway point. Inter arrive in Rotterdam under pressure after a 3-1 defeat by AC Milan in Saturday’s Derby della Madonnina, extending their winless run against their city rivals to eight matches.

Cristian Chivu’s squad has also been affected by illness. Inter had fought back to beat Fiorentina in their previous Serie A match – their fifth comeback in eight league games – but could not respond after Milan moved two goals ahead. They have now been overtaken by Serie A leaders Lazio, while Milan are four points behind.

Inter began their European campaign with a 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho, before losing 4-3 at home to Club Bruges. A 1-0 victory over Chakhtar Donetsk, secured despite playing with 10 men, finally put them on the board.

The Nerazzurri have lost seven of their past nine Champions League matches, while Chivu’s record in the competition contains more defeats than victories. However, Inter’s wider record against Dutch opposition is encouraging: since losing to Ajax in the 1972 European Cup final, they have won 10 of 14 matches without defeat.

Feyenoord are also competing in their third Champions League campaign in four seasons. They reached the knockout phase in 2024-25, eliminating Milan before losing to Inter in the last 16. Their only other meeting ended in a 3-2 aggregate Feyenoord win in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup semi-finals, before they went on to lift the trophy.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side lost 5-1 at Barcelona, beat Como 3-2 and then fell to a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis. Feyenoord have lost 10 of their past 13 major European matches, while Van Bronckhorst has won only two of his 15 Champions League games. Both victories came at home against Italian opposition: Napoli and Como.

Domestically, Feyenoord remain top of the Eredivisie after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Fortuna Sittard. They are still unbeaten at De Kuip in all competitions.

Inter are without captain Lautaro Martinez, Luis Henrique, Benjamin Pavard, John Stones and Curtis Jones. Alessandro Bastoni is suspended by UEFA following his red card against Chakhtar Donetsk. Carlos Augusto could replace him after contributing to five goals in his past eight Champions League starts.

Marcus Thuram and Hakan Calhanoglu both scored when the sides met in March 2025. Pio Esposito or Ange Bonny could partner Thuram if they recover from illness.

Feyenoord’s Bart Nieuwkoop, Jordan Bos and Thomas Beelen remain absent, with Jeremiah St. Juste doubtful. Gijs Smal, Reiss Nelson and Shaqueel van Persie may return to the squad.

Anis Hadj Moussa, one of three Feyenoord forwards with at least seven goal involvements this season, has attempted more shots after carrying the ball than any other player in this Champions League campaign: 10.

Three bets to consider: both teams to score and under 4.5 goals at 2.03; Marcus Thuram to score at 2.03; and Anis Hadj Moussa to score at 2.70.

Probable Feyenoord XI: Ernst; Read, Watanabe, Marmol, Lopez; Zechiel, Vanhoutte, Targhalline; Hadj Moussa, Ferri, Valente.

Probable Inter Milan XI: J. Martinez; Bisseck, Akanji, Augusto; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito.