Feyenoord Cruise Past Sporting Charleroi in Summer Friendly

Feyenoord kicked off their 2026–27 pre-season campaign in fine style on 17 July 2026, securing a comfortable 3–1 victory over Belgian Pro League side RC Sporting Charleroi at De Kuip. The friendly, part of both clubs’ summer preparation, gave head coach Brian Priske plenty of positive takeaways as his team showed sharp attacking intent and defensive solidity.

Match Overview

Played under the evening lights in Rotterdam, the match saw Feyenoord dominate possession from the outset. The Eredivisie side’s high press and quick transitions caused Charleroi problems throughout the first hour. The visitors, still finding their rhythm under new manager Rik De Mil, struggled to cope with the intensity but did manage to pull one back before half-time.

Key Moments

• 15’ – Feyenoord take the lead: A flowing move down the right flank ended with a low cross turned home by striker Ayase Ueda, who showed sharp movement to lose his marker inside the box.
• 33’ – Second goal for the hosts: Calvin Stengs curled a brilliant free-kick over the Charleroi wall and into the top corner, doubling Feyenoord’s advantage and drawing applause from the home crowd.
• 41’ – Charleroi respond: A defensive lapse allowed Charleroi forward Aboubacar Traoré to slot home from close range after a corner kick wasn’t cleared, giving the Belgian side a lifeline before the break.
• 68’ – Feyenoord seal the win: Substitute Alireza Jahanbakhsh capped a fine individual run with a clinical finish low into the far corner, restoring the two-goal cushion and effectively ending the contest.

Tactical Story

Priske deployed a fluid 4-3-3 system, with full-backs pushing high to create overloads. Feyenoord’s midfield trio of Quinten Timber, Ramiz Zerrouki, and Mats Wieffer controlled the tempo, frequently switching play to stretch Charleroi’s compact defensive block. The Belgian side tried to counter through pace on the wings but were often caught offside or forced into hopeful crosses.

Charleroi’s best spell came just after their goal, when they pressed higher and won a few second balls. However, Feyenoord’s defensive organisation improved in the second half, and the introduction of Jahanbakhsh added both width and a direct threat on the break.

Standout Players

• Calvin Stengs (Feyenoord): Dangerous from set pieces and a constant creative outlet on the left wing. His free-kick goal was a highlight of the evening.
• Quinten Timber (Feyenoord): Dictated play from deep, completing over 90% of his passes and breaking up Charleroi attacks with well-timed tackles.
• Aboubacar Traoré (Charleroi): The lively forward was a rare bright spot for the visitors, scoring a poacher’s goal and showing good movement throughout.

Friendly Significance

For Feyenoord, the result continues a positive start to pre-season as they build towards the new Eredivisie campaign and their Champions League group-stage bid. Charleroi, meanwhile, will look to improve defensive cohesion ahead of their Belgian Pro League opener. The match also served as a useful test for both sides’ tactical approaches and squad depth.

With the European transfer window still open, performances like these may influence final roster decisions as clubs fine-tune their squads before competitive action begins in August.