AS Roma Vs Feyenoord Preview: Preparing For A Place In European History

AS Roma players train before appearing in the Conference League final against Feyenoord (Twitter @asroma)

JAKARTA – AS Roma and Feyenoord will clash in the 2021/2022 UEFA Conference League final. This is an opportunity for both teams to claim their place in the history of the competition and Europe.

The team from the Italian capital and representatives of the Netherlands will gather at the Air Albania Stadium, Tirana, Albania, on Thursday, May 26 at 02.00 WIB. This match is the final of the inaugural edition of the third level competition in Europe.

For that, the winner of this event will make history on the Blue Continent. For Roma this is their third chance to win a first European trophy after winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1961.

However, the exhibition tournament in Europe has not been held since 1971. After winning the event, the team nicknamed the "Capital Wolves" are still trying to stick their teeth in Europe after missing the previous two opportunities.

The Olimpico-based team got their first chance when they reached the final of the European Cup (now the European Champions League) in 1984. However, their dream was lost after being silenced by Liverpool.

Their next opportunity came seven years later in 1991 when they bagged a ticket to the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) final. Again, good luck has not been on their side so that fellow Italian Serie A team, Inter Milan, are silenced.

It's a different story for Feyenoord who have a long history in both the European Champions League and Europa League. This match became a golden opportunity for “Clubs from the South” to make history as the first team to lift three European club tournament trophies at this time.

Feyenoord have previously won the European Champions League and Europa League. They won the first tournament in the 1969/1970 season, while the second they won four years later in the 1973/1974 and 2001/2002 seasons.

The opportunity to make history is not only owned by the two clubs. Roma coach, Jose Mourinho, also has a great chance to strengthen himself as the first coach to win the European Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

The veteran tactician will be increasingly recognized if he can give Roma the title. If that scenario works then he is the only coach to have won three European club competitions with four different clubs.

As is known, "The Special One" previously had a collection of two Champions League trophies and two Europa League trophies. He achieved that while coaching Porto, Inter Milan and Manchester United.

He got his first Champions League while with Porto in the 2003/2004 season. Then he grabbed the same trophy again after successfully bringing Inter out as champions six years later.

As for the Europa League, he won the 2002/2003 season with Porto and the 2016/2017 season at Manchester United. So if he is able to add the Conference League trophy to his career then it is undeniable that the record will be difficult to break.

Estimated Formation:

Roma (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Oliveira, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Zaniolo; Abraham

Feyenoord (4-2-3-1): Marciano; Geertruida, Trauner, Senesi, Malacia; Aursnes, Kokcu; Nelson, Til, Sinisterra; desserts.