Feyenoord vs Roma Preview
Less than a year after they met in a close-fought continental final, Feyenoord and Roma convene again on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, at De Kuip.
While the Serie A side came out on top in last term's Europa Conference League decider, their in-form hosts are on course to become Eredivisie champions and are well-placed to take revenge.
Since losing 1-0 to Jose Mourinho's men in last May's inaugural Conference League final, Feyenoord have gone from strength to strength despite inevitably losing players to richer clubs across Europe.
Having not lost in the league since November and crushed Shakhtar Donetsk 7-1 in their Europa League last-16 second leg a few weeks ago, the Rotterdammers are enjoying a prolonged purple patch - blotted only by their controversial KNVB Beker semi-final loss to arch-rivals Ajax last Wednesday.
In the latest example of how fiery De Kuip can be under the floodlights, Feyenoord's fans twice held up De Klassieker in a 2-1 defeat - first for a cloud caused by smoke bombs to clear; secondly, when Davy Klaasen was struck by an object thrown from the stands.
After the officials had led both teams off in response, action eventually resumed when the Ajax man's bloodied head was treated and club legend John de Wolf emotionally - and effectively - addressed his club's supporters in a plea for peace. Roma can surely expect a similar reception this week, though.
Nearly 2,000 seats will be left empty for Thursday's fixture as a result of subsequent safety measures, but Feyenoord - who thumped RKC Waalwijk 5-1 at the weekend to sit eight points clear at the Eredivisie summit - will still be passionately backed.
On course to be crowned Dutch champions for the first time since 2017, they have won each of their last eight league matches, and having lost only four times all season, Arne Slot's side will not suffer an inferiority complex against their conquerors in Tirana some 11 months ago.