Feyenoord vs Celtic Prediction 28 November 2025

🔊 Feyenoord and Celtic are among the more surprising occupants of the lower half of the Europa League table. Just last season, both teams were competing in the Champions League playoffs. However, this time around, they are not even close to securing a spot in the last 32 of Europe's second-tier competition. The upcoming head-to-head clash presents a prime opportunity for either club to break into the top 24. Which team is more prepared to fight for a playoff spot? We'll find out on Thursday at De Kuip Arena in Rotterdam. Let's assess their chances for success with an insightful prediction from our editorial team.

Head-to-Head

📊 The teams are set for their third encounter. Their first two meetings took place during the group stage of the 2023/24 Champions League season, with each side securing a home victory. In Rotterdam, the score was 2-0, while in Glasgow it ended 2-1. Neither club managed to advance from the group alongside Atlético Madrid and Lazio. However, Feyenoord clinched third place, earning them a spot in the Europa League.

Feyenoord Rotterdam Team Overview

The "Pride of the South" are facing a downturn. In their last five matches, Robin van Persie's squad have managed just one victory. Their current losing streak has now extended to three games. Even the international break couldn't provide a reset. Upon resuming club action, Feyenoord fell at home to NEC Nijmegen, who sit fourth in the Eredivisie, with a 2-4 defeat. This result has left them trailing league leaders PSV by six points.

Feyenoord's struggles also extend to the Europa League. After an initial victory over Panathinaikos in the third round (3-1), it seemed like they were on the rise. The team dominated play and looked very confident. However, Stuttgart brought them back to reality with a 2-0 win in Germany. Currently, the Rotterdam side are 29th out of 36, sitting two points shy of the playoff spots.

Celtic Team Overview

The managerial change has benefitted Celtic. Brendan Rodgers' departure came after a defeat to Premiership leaders Hearts in the 9th round (1-3). Under Martin O’Neill, the Hoops have been flawless domestically. They reached the Scottish Cup final, edging past Rangers (1-1 in regular time; 3-1 after extra time). In the league, they are on a three-match winning streak without conceding a goal. Their gap to the top has narrowed to four points, and they still have a game in hand.

However, the Europa League tells a different story. Brendan Rodgers' last notable result in Europe’s secondary competition was a home victory against Austrian side Sturm Graz (2-1). Martin O’Neill's debut didn't go as planned. In the 4th round, the Hoops visited Midtjylland in Denmark. The Scots struggled against the group stage leaders, conceding territorial advantage (40% to 60% possession) and generating only 0.98 xG from five shots. The Wolves, with their 24 attempts and 2.59 xG, seemed out of reach. This was reflected in the scoreline – a 3-1 victory for the hosts.

Latest news

Feyenoord Rotterdam

🎙 Feyenoord's head coach commented on his team's recent form. "We've conceded ten goals in our last four league matches, and that's far too many. Losing the last three games is not worthy of Feyenoord. We've made several mistakes and played carelessly. In the next match, we need to defend better. The players need to regroup because this has been absolutely unacceptable," said Robin van Persie.

❌ Feyenoord's disappointing results are largely attributed to a crowded injury list. Thomas Beelen, Hwang In-beom, Malcolm Jeng, Jakub Moder, Shiloh 't Zand, and Gernot Trauner are all sidelined. However, Jordan Bos, Jivairo Read, and Jayden Slory might recover in time for the match against Celtic.

Celtic

🎙 Celtic's interim head coach is putting pressure on the club's management. Ahead of the clash with Feyenoord, Martin O'Neill spoke about his future and the uncertainty surrounding the managerial position at the Hoops. "We are preparing for one of the most crucial European matches this season, yet we still don't know who will be leading the team even a week from now. This isn't the ideal situation for a team that needs stability and calm, especially before facing Feyenoord. Many are already talking about a nauseating effect, so here's the answer: the match is on Thursday, and the plane leaves on Wednesday, so they better make a decision pretty quickly. Maybe at the end of the season, I'll look back with some distance," said the Northern Irish coach.

❌ Celtic's injury list isn't as extensive as Feyenoord's, but it includes key players. Defender Alistair Johnston is definitely out. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kelechi Iheanacho are doubtful. The latter seems to have fully recovered but was not included in the squad for the last Premiership match.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by the main referee Sebastian Gishamer from Austria. His average number of yellow cards over the last 20 matches in the Austrian Bundesliga stands at 4.2. Feyenoord certainly can't be accused of passivity. They have fought hard in every Europa League match, as evidenced by their average of 5.75 cautions over four rounds. In contrast, Celtic's matches have been much calmer, with just three yellow cards over the same period. However, given the dire standings for both teams, the intensity promises to be high, especially in Rotterdam. Our prediction: total yellow cards over 3.5.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Celtic have become noticeably more organized defensively since Martin O'Neill took charge. In their last three Premiership games, the 'Celts' haven't conceded a single goal. However, this stability hasn't yet translated to European competitions. In the Europa League, O'Neill's first away game ended in a near-thrashing by Midtjylland (1-3). Feyenoord's defensive issues aren't tournament-specific. In the Europa League, the Southern Dutch concede an average of 1.5 goals per match (over four rounds), and in the Eredivisie, it's 2.5 over the same span. Additionally, both teams have scored in five consecutive matches at De Kuip Arena. Editor's choice: both teams to score (yes).

🚩 Corner Prediction

Martin O'Neill hasn't drastically changed Celtic's tactics since Brendan Rodgers' era. The 'Celts' primarily use a 4-3-3 formation, but the Northern Irish manager has introduced more pragmatism into Scottish football. Now, they switch to a 4-2-3-1 depending on their opponents' level, as seen against Rangers and Midtjylland. In those matches, Celtic relied more on counter-attacks. What remains unchanged is their focus on creating through the flanks, which allows them to utilize set-pieces effectively. In their last five matches, O'Neill's side hasn't earned fewer than four corners, even when playing away. We anticipate that in Rotterdam, Celtic's total corners will be over 3.5.

Bookmakers have pegged Feyenoord as the clear favorites for the upcoming clash, yet we feel the odds difference of over 2.5 times is unjustifiably large. It's not about Celtic's form; the 'Hoops' have only managed to improve their results domestically in the Premiership. Meanwhile, the Rotterdam side are struggling not just in the Europa League but also in the Eredivisie, having conceded ten goals in four matches—a telling statistic. Nonetheless, it's worth noting that the southerners have fought hard in every one of those encounters, scoring eight times over the same stretch. Feyenoord's home games have been a spectacle, with total goals exceeding the 3.5 mark in five consecutive matches. We anticipate a similar scenario at De Kuip Arena on Thursday. However, out of respect for Martin O'Neill, who has managed to organize Celtic's defense at least in the league, we'll adjust our bet to a total goals over 2.5. We give a slight edge to the hosts with a predicted scoreline of 2-1.