Two early strikes propelled Feyenoord closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a commanding 4-2 victory over Sparta Prague on Wednesday.
Gernot Trauner and Igor Paixao scored in quick succession to give the Dutch side a flying start, while Anis Hadj Moussa and Santiago Gimenez added to the tally, solidifying Feyenoord’s position in the competition.
The home team wasted no time, with Trauner’s header from a corner wrong-footing goalkeeper Peter Vindahl in the eighth minute.
Less than two minutes later, Feyenoord’s relentless press forced Kaan Kairinen into an error, allowing Paixao to charge forward from midfield and curl the ball into the net.
Hadj Moussa extended the lead in the 30th minute with a sensational strike, cutting inside from the flank and unleashing a left-footed shot into the top corner.
However, Sparta responded just before halftime when Albion Rrahmani capitalized on a flicked-on long throw to score from close range.
In the 62nd minute, Gimenez restored Feyenoord’s three-goal cushion, seizing on a defensive mishap to bundle the ball in.
Sparta’s second goal came via an unfortunate own goal in the 79th minute, as Thomas Beelen inadvertently steered a cross into his own net.
The win puts Feyenoord on 10 points, while Sparta faces an uphill battle to avoid elimination after four losses in six games.
The clash also marked a reunion for Brian Priske, who previously led Sparta to a domestic double. His successor, Lars Friis, now manages the Czech team.
Statistically, Feyenoord joined an elite group, having scored three or more goals in four Champions League matches this season—second only to Barcelona, who have achieved the feat in five games.
Their lightning-fast opening—going 2-0 up within 10 minutes—is Feyenoord’s quickest in a major European match since 1972.
Meanwhile, Sparta extended their winless streak in Champions League away games to 15 matches (D3, L12), a dubious record they now share with AEK Athens.
