Feyenoord recovered from an early setback to beat Como 3-2 at De Kuip, collecting their first three points of the Champions League campaign and handing Cesc Fabregas’ Italian side its first defeat in the competition.
The second matchday brought together two former Barcelona players on the touchline, with Gio van Bronckhorst and Fabregas both asking their teams to play with attacking intent. The opening stages were more cautious, but the match changed sharply in the 18th minute.
Jacobo Ramón sent a long pass forward for Assane Diao, who had found space against Javi López. The former Betis forward won the race, then drove a left-footed finish across goal and into the far corner. Diao was injured during the move and was due to be replaced by Jesús Rodríguez, but Feyenoord struck almost immediately at the other end.
Zechiël levelled with a fierce right-footed effort from the edge of the area after receiving the ball with his back to goal. The 22-year-old midfielder, recently called up by Xavi Hernández’s Netherlands squad during the international break, gave Robert Sánchez no chance with his powerful strike.
Feyenoord controlled much of the remainder of the first half, although clear chances were limited. Como remained uncomfortable after the interval and the home side turned that territorial superiority into a lead through Anis Hadj Moussa.
The Algerian winger was Feyenoord’s most dangerous attacking outlet, cutting in from the right before firing a low, forceful shot beyond Robert Sánchez. Fabregas responded with a triple substitution, introducing Douvikas, Da Cunha and Couto, yet the visitors could not establish a sustained spell of pressure.
Hadj Moussa continued to unsettle Como’s defence, first beating Chalobah and hitting the post. Soon afterwards, another effort from outside the box took a touch off Jacobo Ramón, struck the crossbar and then rebounded off Robert Sánchez for Feyenoord’s third.
Como did pull one back in stoppage time. Another precise long ball from Jacobo Ramón was not dealt with by Mika Mármol, allowing Douvikas to hammer a high finish past the home goalkeeper. There was no time for a late equaliser, however, as Feyenoord saw out a lively European night in Rotterdam.
