Go Ahead Eagles make the trip to Almere City on Sunday with the opportunity to move into fifth place in the Eredivisie table.
Meanwhile, the home side are aware that only maximum points will realistically do if they wish to retain hope of avoiding relegation to the second tier.
Match preview
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Having taken over as Almere City head coach in January, Jeroen Rijsdijk can be satisfied with the work that he has done to keep his side competitive in the battle to avoid relegation.
Collecting five points from a recent three-game stretch ensured that the pressure remained on Willem II and RKC Waalwijk, yet they are still five points adrift of safety.
That is a consequence of back-to-back away defeats to PSV Eindhoven and Heerenveen, but Rijsdijk and his squad will feel that all is not lost at this stage.
Sunday's fixture is the first of three successive encounters at the Yanmar Stadion, with Sparta Rotterdam and Fortuna Sittard the other two visitors.
However, the Black Sheep have gone five matches without a win on familiar territory, highlighting the size of the task in front of them this weekend.
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As for Go Ahead Eagles, they are still on an unprecedented high having won the KNVB Beker for the first time in their history with a penalty-shootout triumph over AZ Alkmaar.
The win was fairytale stuff, a 99th-minute leveller from the penalty spot keeping Go Ahead Eagles in the final before they prevailed 4-2 in the subsequent showdown from 12 yards.
Paul Simonis and his squad can now look forward to Europa League football in 2025-26, but they will still want to finish in fifth place in the Dutch top flight.
With a favourable run-in ahead of them, Go Ahead Eagles sit two points adrift of fifth with a game in hand, although they have not won a match during regular time since March 16.
Team News
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With Hamdi Akujobi being withdrawn during the first half against Heerenveen, Ricardo Visus could be recalled to the backline.
That would see Marvin Martins switch to right-back, but Rijsdijk may be against further tinkering with his Almere City XI.
If a change is made in the final third, Charles-Andreas Brym could be restored down the left or centre of the attack.
Go Ahead Eagles winger Oliver Antman is expected to miss this contest after suffering an injury during extra time of the KNVB Beker final.
Oscar Petterson should replace him in the final third, while Simonis may consider further rotation after Monday night's famous win.
Almere City possible starting lineup:
Bakker; Martins, Visus Lawrence, Zagaritis; Haye, Kamp; Hansen, Nalic, Kadile; Robinet
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, Adelgaard; Linthorst, Llansana; Petterson, Edvardsen, Suray; Smit
We say: Almere City 1-3 Go Ahead Eagles
With both clubs having struggled for form of late, Almere City will have confidence they can turn things around in front of their own supporters. However, we are backing the visitors to get out of their recent lull to secure one of their most important league wins of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
