Former Rangers target stuns Bayern Munich in 3-0 Champions League win, did one thing 'fantastically'
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To think, only a few weeks ago, the narrative surrounding one of last summer’s reported transfer targets was that Rangers may have benefitted from a bit of a lucky escape.
Because, while the ‘brilliant’ Jefte goes from strength to strength at Ibrox – former Rangers forward Gordon Dalziel far from the only one to perform a dramatic U-turn on the buccaneering Brazilian – Gijs Smal’s performances on the left-hand side of the Feyenoord backline were leaving a lot to be desired.
According to reports, Rangers looked at bringing Gijs Smal to Ibrox before finally completing a belated, bargain £400,000 deal to sign Jefte from Fluminense.
But as he struggled to adapt following a switch to Rotterdam instead, Dutch icon Willem van Hanegem even threatened to give Smal a ‘slap’ if he dared enter his vicinity.
After a coming of age performance against none other than the mighty Bayern Munich, however, Feyenoord legend Van Hanegem may be repealing his threat of a slap and replacing it with a warm embrace.
Because not only did Smal produce by far and away his most impressive display for the Rotterdam giants, he also set Feyenoord on their way to a famous 3-0 win with an inch-perfect assist for Santiago Gimenez with just 20 minutes on the clock.
Former Rangers target Gijs Smal helps Feyenoord stun Bayern Munich
Smal finished on the podium for Eredivisie assists back in 2022/23. Now-Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny was one of only two players in the Dutch top flight to set up more goals that season.
Smal’s proverbial wand of a left boot looked to be backfiring in a manner reminiscent of poor, slug-spewing Ron Weasley in The Chamber of Secrets at De Kuip, however.
Until Bayern stormed into town for Wednesday’s Champions League clash, two of Smal’s miserly tally of three Feyenoord assists had come against third-tier Rijnsburgse Boys in the Dutch cup.
But with one swing of his trusty left foot, Smal finally set about repaying the trust paid in him by Feyenoord boss Brian Priske. A pass attempted from deep inside his own half and executed to perfection, Smal’s raking through ball left Bayern duo Kim Min-Jae and Dayot Upamecano stretching in vain as Santiago Gimenez raced in behind to finish emphatically past Manuel Neuer.
With two goals on the night, it was Mexican marksman Gimenez who dominated the back pages of the Rotterdam press on Thursday morning. But if a Champions League brace against a bonafide continental giant was confirmation that Gimenez belongs at this level, it is arguably Gijs Smal who had the most to gain.
Consider his reputation, not quite salvaged, but boosted considerably amongst the Feyenoord faithful.
Smal shows talent as Feyenoord eye Champions League progress
“It’s a great game to play in. One of my biggest so far after Manchester City away,” a beaming Smal told reporters after Feyenoord moved level on points with Bayer Leverkusen in the top eight.
“I’m super proud of the team. We didn’t have much possession but we defended like beasts.”
Smal is not taking all the praise for Gimenez’s opener. He delivered the Michelin star ingredients, but it was still up Gimenez to cook them to perfection.
“Santiago Gimenez, the first goal was a nice pass but his control was even better,” Smal adds. “He was able to get in front of the defender and it was a great finish.
“Sometimes, you just feel ‘this is going to be one of those nights’. I think that first goal comes at a good time. The second at an even better time, just before half-time. And, at 3-0, then you know this can hardly go wrong.”
Former Netherlands and Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, meanwhile, focused not only on the quality of Smal’s delivery but also a tactical masterstroke from Arne Slot’s oft-under-fire Feyenoord replacement.
“That first goal was played out fantastically,” Van Hooijdonk says, Priske keeping the wolf from the door with the finest win of his tenure by some distance. “You are put under pressure and you want to lure Bayern [into pressing high] so that you can free Smal.
“You do that by waiting, and then you succeed. And this ball [from Smal], it has to be 100 per cent good, and it is. The two [Bayern] centre-backs will get criticis but, if this ball is played, you are always hopeless.
“Gimenez takes it well and finishes fantastically.”
