Can Inter silence De Kuip without Lautaro? Feyenoord vs Inter prediction – 03.11.2026
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Feyenoord will host Inter Milan at De Kuip in Rotterdam in the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Both teams have collected just three points from their opening three matches, making this encounter particularly important in the battle for a place in the knockout rounds. Inter arrive as favorites, but their injury problems and Feyenoord's home advantage could make this a more complicated contest than expected.
Feyenoord: Home advantage cannot hide defensive problems
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team have struggled to find consistency in the Champions League. Their European campaign began with a heavy 5-1 defeat against Barcelona, followed by an entertaining 3-2 home victory over Como. However, Feyenoord failed to build on that success, losing 1-0 away to Real Betis in their third match.
The Dutch side have scored four goals and conceded eight in three European fixtures. Their defensive organization has been particularly concerning against technically strong opponents, while the team have also struggled to maintain their intensity throughout matches.
The problems have not been limited to European competition. On October 31, Feyenoord dropped points at home against Fortuna Sittard, drawing 1-1 despite creating enough opportunities to secure victory. Luciano Valente opened the scoring, but the Rotterdam club conceded a late equalizer, once again exposing their inability to turn territorial superiority into three points.
Personnel problems have made Van Bronckhorst's task more difficult. Jeremiah St. Juste missed the Fortuna match through injury, and his availability against Inter remains uncertain. Reiss Nelson, Gijs Smal and Shaqueel van Persie have also been working towards their returns, although their readiness for this European encounter has not been confirmed.
Much of Feyenoord's attacking creativity will depend on Anis Hadj Moussa and Luciano Valente. The hosts will try to use the atmosphere at De Kuip to press aggressively and create opportunities through the flanks, but leaving space behind their defensive line could prove extremely dangerous against Inter.
Inter: A painful derby defeat, but the quality remains
Cristian Chivu's team have also endured a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign. Inter opened with a 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid before suffering a dramatic 4-3 home loss to Club Brugge. Their first European victory finally arrived in the third round, when Carlos Augusto scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
With three points from three matches, the Nerazzurri sit 20th in the league-phase standings, six places above Feyenoord. They have scored five goals and conceded six, numbers that highlight their offensive potential but also their occasional defensive vulnerability.
Inter's latest domestic fixture brought another setback. On October 31, Chivu's side suffered their first Serie A defeat of the season, losing 3-1 to AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina. Alessandro Bastoni scored for Inter, but a poor opening period left the team facing an uphill battle.
The biggest concern ahead of the trip to Rotterdam is the absence of Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine captain suffered a left thigh muscle injury in October and is expected to miss this Champions League encounter. His absence deprives Inter of their most reliable finisher and one of their key attacking leaders.
Nevertheless, Chivu still has considerable quality at his disposal. Marcus Thuram remains the main attacking threat, while Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny offer alternatives in the forward line. Nicolò Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Federico Dimarco provide the creativity, experience and technical quality needed to control the tempo against an aggressive opponent.
Probable lineups
- Feyenoord (4-3-3): Ernst – Read, Watanabe, Mármol, Javi López – Zechiël, Vanhoutte, Targhaline – Hadj Moussa, Nacho Ferri, Valente.
- Inter (3-5-2): Josep Martínez – Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni – Spence, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Sučić, Dimarco – Thuram, Pio Esposito.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Feyenoord have conceded eight goals in their first three Champions League matches.
- Inter have collected three points from three European fixtures, scoring five goals and conceding six.
- Feyenoord have conceded at least once in all three of their Champions League matches this season.
- Inter won both meetings with Feyenoord in the 2024/25 Champions League Round of 16, advancing 4-1 on aggregate.
- Feyenoord drew 1-1 with Fortuna Sittard in their latest match, while Inter suffered a 3-1 defeat against AC Milan.
Inter's superior quality should decide a difficult away match: Feyenoord vs Inter prediction
Neither team approaches this encounter in ideal form. Feyenoord have struggled defensively in Europe and continue to waste opportunities in domestic competition, while Inter are dealing with the psychological consequences of a derby defeat and the absence of their captain.
However, the difference in individual quality and squad depth remains significant. Inter possess a more experienced midfield, greater tactical flexibility and several players capable of deciding a match through individual brilliance. Their victory over Shakhtar also demonstrated that Chivu's side can remain disciplined and secure a result without Lautaro Martinez.
Feyenoord should offer serious resistance at De Kuip, where the atmosphere will encourage the hosts to attack and take risks. However, those same attacking ambitions could create spaces for Thuram and Inter's wing-backs to exploit. If the visitors maintain their defensive concentration and control the midfield, they should have enough quality to claim an important victory.
Prediction: Inter to win.
