A crucial match in the race for European spots in the Eredivisie is on the cards this weekend, with Go Ahead Eagles playing host to FC Utrecht at De Adelaarshorst on Sunday afternoon.
With a little bit of luck in results elsewhere this weekend, a win for the hosts in this match could take them as high as fifth in the league standings, while the visitors could move into the top three.
Match preview
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The international break may have come at the worst possible time for Go Ahead Eagles, who had built up solid momentum up to the league stoppage, notching four consecutive wins across all competitions.
However, that win streak was brought to an end on the road against Feyenoord last week when they suffered a 3-2 defeat after pulling level twice before Igor Paixao's winner 15 minutes from time.
That defeat was a tad costly for Kowet, as it saw them pass up the opportunity to move to fifth place in the league standings and level with fourth after Twente were beaten 2-1 by Heracles earlier the same day.
Indeed, the pride of the IJssel are enjoying a very progressive season, currently just two points behind the 46 they posted last term, while they are also set to feature in the final of the KNVB Beker against AZ Alkmaar later this month.
The hosts will now return to De Adelaarshorst, where they have been excellent this season, currently unbeaten in their last nine games (W7 D2), while having only tasted defeat at this venue twice to date.
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Meanwhile, FC Utrecht bounced back from their unexpected 1-0 loss to bottom-half NEC before the international break with a solid 2-0 victory over Heerenveen on their home patch last weekend.
With that, Utreg have now won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five league games, which is a major improvement after winning just two of their previous 10 in the top flight between the start of December and February.
Notably, the visitors are the only team in the division that is still unbeaten on the road this season, picking up eight wins and five draws in 13 games, giving them the second-best points tally in away games (29) behind Ajax (32).
These sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw when they met in the reverse fixture back in December, but Ron Jans's side have a good record at this venue, unbeaten in their last five visits with two wins and three draws.
Team News
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Go Ahead Eagles could be without three players due to injury this week, including the club's top scorer, Jakob Breum (foot injury), who has now missed the last six matches across all competitions.
Soren Tengstedt has not featured since February with a broken foot, which should keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future, while Finn Stokkers is flagged as a doubt owing to an injury to his eye.
For the visitors, midfielder Can Bozdogan underwent surgery on his ankle at the start of the year, and he is unlikely to return to action for the team by the end of the current campaign.
Niklas Vesterlund (ankle) and Miguel Rodriguez (groin) are also ruled out for the foreseeable future, while Yoann Cathline is only expected to return to training from his knee injury next month.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Linthorst, Llansana; Antman, Edvardsen, Suray; Smit
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Rodriguez, Iqbal, Fraulo, Blake; Aaronson, Haller
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 2-2 FC Utrecht
We are expecting a very close contest this weekend, with the hosts entering the match unbeaten in their last nine home games, while the visitors have yet to taste defeat on the road this season.
There was nothing to separate these two when they met back in December in the reverse fixture, and we feel they will have to settle for a share of the spoils in this one as well.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
