Feyenoord's strikerless gamble tests Utrecht's fragile defence in Eredivisie showdown
Feyenoord will face FC Utrecht in an Eredivisie clash without their leading scorer, Ayase Ueda. The third-placed side have reshuffled their attack, opting for a strikerless formation under manager Robin van Persie. Meanwhile, Utrecht, winless in the league since November, will rely on a revamped defence for the home fixture.
Feyenoord arrive at the Stadion Galgenwaard in strong league form, sitting third with 43 points—two behind NEC and one ahead of Ajax. However, their top scorer Ueda, who has 17 goals this season, will miss the match. Van Persie has responded by fielding a fluid frontline, with Anis Hadj Moussa and Aymen Sliti spearheading the attack instead of a traditional centre-forward. The midfield will feature Luciano Valente, Hwang In-beom, Jakub Moder, and Oussama Targhallini, while Tsuyoshi Watanabe returns to the starting XI. At the back, Timon Wellenreuther will start in goal, shielded by Mats Deijl, Anel Ahmedhodžić, and Jordan Bos.
Casper Tengstedt, a €6 million signing from Benfica last summer, will begin on the bench. The Danish forward has been used centrally in recent games, part of a rotating cast that includes Leo Sauer and Hadj Moussa—who have chipped in with five and three goals respectively this season. Feyenoord's system under Van Persie has increasingly relied on multi-role attackers, spreading the scoring burden beyond a lone striker.
Utrecht, languishing in 13th, have struggled for league wins since their 2-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard on November 9. Their only success in that period came in a cup tie against third-tier TOP Oss. For this match, manager Michael Silvestre has picked Mike van der Hoorn and Matisse Didden in central defence, dropping Nick Viergever. The hosts will look to end their league drought against a Feyenoord side adapting to life without their star forward.
The absence of Ueda forces Feyenoord to rely on their tactical flexibility, with Hadj Moussa and Sliti leading the line in a system designed to share creative responsibility. Utrecht, desperate for points, will test their reshuffled backline against a side still chasing the Eredivisie's top two. The outcome could hinge on whether Van Persie's strikerless approach unlocks a defence that has conceded regularly in recent months.
