Feyenoord stumble again: 2-2 draw with ADO Den Haag ten days before facing Barcelona

Feyenoord will arrive at the Spotify Camp Nou with a wobble in their step. Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team, Barcelona's first opponent in the new Champions League league phase on Wednesday 9 at 18:45, managed only a 2-2 draw against ADO Den Haag at De Kuip this weekend. It marks their second home slip in just four Eredivisie rounds and exposes defensive cracks the Catalan side may look to punish.

• Feyenoord picked up their second draw in four league games, once again at home.
• They trailed 0-2 against the third-bottom side before rallying in the final half hour.
• Ayase Ueda and Anis Hadj Moussa scored the goals that earned a point.
• Former Barça academy players Mika Mármol and Javi López started the match.
• The Rotterdam club sit third with 8 points, four behind leaders AZ Alkmaar.

A dramatic comeback after falling 0-2 against the bottom side

The afternoon turned sour early for the Rotterdam outfit. Nigel Thomas put ADO Den Haag ahead in the 12th minute and Sekou Sylla doubled the visitors' lead shortly after the break, in the 53rd. Feyenoord entered as heavy favourites against a team still searching for their first point of the campaign, yet found themselves pinned against the ropes in their own stadium.

The home response arrived in the final half hour. Ayase Ueda pulled one back in the 62nd minute and Anis Hadj Moussa levelled ten minutes later. From that point on, Feyenoord camped in the ADO Den Haag half, but the scoreline refused to move again despite a relentless barrage of chances.

Sterile dominance: 27 shots and 68% possession

The numbers paint a picture of lopsided control without reward. Feyenoord finished with 27 attempts to ADO Den Haag's five and kept the ball for 68% of the match. It was a constant siege, especially after the equaliser, but wayward finishing and a stubborn visiting goalkeeper kept the comeback from reaching completion.

Feyenoord fired 27 shots, held 68% possession and still could not beat the third-bottom team at home.

Barça academy presence in Van Bronckhorst's starting eleven

Two La Masia graduates featured in Feyenoord's lineup. Mika Mármol started at centre-back while Canary Islander Javi López slotted in at left-back. Both were on the pitch for a match that raises questions about the Dutch side's defensive organisation, particularly in transition and when defending set pieces.

How Feyenoord arrive at the Camp Nou showdown

With eight points from a possible twelve, Feyenoord occupy third place in the Eredivisie. AZ Alkmaar lead the way after winning every match so far and sit four points clear of Van Bronckhorst's men. The gap is not alarming on its own, but two home draws against lower-table opponents sound a warning before the European opener.

One final test awaits before the trip to Barcelona. On Saturday 5 September, Feyenoord visit NEC Nijmegen at 16:30, a match that offers a chance to fine-tune details and regain confidence ahead of the clash with Barça. The game will be available on DAZN.

What is at stake for Barcelona against Feyenoord in the opening round

Barcelona begin a new Champions League campaign with the obligation to secure three points at home. The competition's fresh format, featuring an eight-match league phase, punishes early slip-ups and makes home victories essential. Facing a Feyenoord side that has struggled to close out matches could play into the hands of the Catalan club.

Barça's recent record in European openers at the Camp Nou is strong, and Hansi Flick's squad arrive with confidence after their start to the LaLiga season. The defensive fragility Feyenoord showed against a bottom side suggests an open contest, with space for Barcelona's forwards to exploit.

Frequently asked questions about Feyenoord, Barcelona's Champions League opponent