Preview: Feyenoord vs. Groningen - prediction, team news, lineups

Having seen their four-game winning streak come to an end last time out, Feyenoord welcome Groningen to De Kuip on Saturday in search of an immediate response.

This weekend's meeting in Rotterdam is the second between the sides this season off the back of a 1-1 stalemate in December's reverse fixture.

Match preview

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Feyenoord suffered a first defeat since the turn of the year as they were beaten 2-1 by AZ Alkmaar in a heavyweight clash at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday.

A pair of Jesper Karlsson's first-half penalties left Arne Slot's men with a mammoth task at half time before Lutsharel Geertruida halved the deficit in the second period.

Consequently, De Stadionclub passed up an opportunity to cut the gap on league leaders Ajax to three points and have now fallen four points adrift of PSV Eindhoven in second.

Their next challenge comes against an opposing outfit who have won just one of the last 19 encounters between the teams dating back to 2012.

Ahead of a Conference League first-leg clash versus Partizan Belgrade to follow five days later, Saturday's hosts will be keen to set the tone with an impressive display this weekend.

Groningen saw off the threat of a struggling Willem II side in a narrow 1-0 victory at the Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on Saturday.

Bjorn Meijer's strike in the opening 14 minutes proved to be the difference as Danny Buijs's men held on to secure a hard-fought three points.

The Pride of the North have now closed the gap on the top half of the table to two points having picked up 10 of the last 15 points available.

Only three teams in the entire division have conceded more goals away from home than Saturday's visitors, who have only managed one clean sheet on the road all-season long.

Team News

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Reiss Nelson is expected to sit out this weekend's match with a hamstring problem, while Philippe Sandler continues to nurse a thigh problem.

Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers will miss the game as he works his way back to full fitness after sustaining a muscle injury.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh could be recalled to the starting XI for this one, with Jens Toornstra the likeliest to make way for the Iranian.

Radinio Balker remains without an appearance this term due to a knee problem and a return to action is not expected anytime soon.

Jorgen Strand Larsen has struggled in front of goal recently, but the 22-year-old should retain his place in attack.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Malacia, Sensesi, Trauner, Geertruida; Kokcu, Aursnes, Til; Sinisterra, Linssen, Jahanbakhsh

Groningen possible starting lineup:
Leeuwenburgh; Meijer, Van Hintum, Te Wierik, Kasanwirjo; Duarte, Suslov, De Leeuw; Abraham, El Hankouri, Larsen

We say: Feyenoord 3-0 Groningen

The onus is more on Feyenoord to put last weekend's defeat behind them ahead of what is a very crucial period. We fancy them to run out comfortable winners in this one, scoring plenty of goals en route.

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