Feyenoord will bring the curtain down on what has been a captivating 2024-25 Eredivisie season with a trip to the Abe Lenstra Stadion to face Heerenveen on Sunday afternoon.
While the outcome of this match will not affect Feyenoord's final league position, there is still plenty at stake for the hosts, who are chasing European qualification.
Match preview
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With Go Ahead Eagles claiming their first-ever KNVB Beker title, nine Eredivisie teams now have a shot at European football next season, and remarkably, seven remain mathematically in contention heading into the final matchday.
As it stands, Heerenveen occupy the final Conference League playoff spot, but the race is razor-thin, as they are level on points with 10th-placed Fortuna Sittard and only two ahead of 14th-placed Heracles, which sets the stage for a dramatic final day.
However, De Superfriezen could have been home and dry by now had they not stumbled in their last two outings, with a costly defeat to relegation-threatened RKC Waalwijk a week ago, followed by a midweek loss to Go Ahead Eagles.
Robin Veldman's side now find themselves in a must-win position heading into their final battle of the season, but the major concern is a daunting one, as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the reverse fixture and have not beaten the Rotterdam giants in their last seven meetings.
The biggest positive, though, is the hosts' impressive record at the Abe Lenstra Stadion, where they are currently on a three-match winning streak, unbeaten in their last seven, and have suffered just one defeat all season (W9 D6 L1).
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Meanwhile, Feyenoord head into their final match of the season with little at stake, as their third-place finish is already secured, and that guarantees them a spot in the Champions League qualifiers next term.
De club aan de Maas secured their 20th win of the season in midweek with a professional 2-0 victory over RKC Waalwijk, with Igor Paixao and Ayase Ueda finding the net on either side of the half time interval.
Robin van Persie has now led his new team in 10 league matches and won eight, while that dramatic late defeat to PSV last weekend is the only league loss he has tasted since arriving in Rotterdam at the start of March.
Van Persie is now set to face his former employers for the first time since departing, and while there may be a few pleasantries exchanged after the final whistle, he will be fully focused on maintaining his perfect away record, having won all four road games at the helm of his new side.
Team News
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Alireza Jahanbakhsh was left out of the squad for the last two matches with an unspecified injury, and reports in recent days suggest that the Iranian may have played his final game for the team, with his contract set to expire at the end of this season.
Che Nunnely picked up a knock ahead of the midweek fixture against Go Ahead Eagles and is a doubt for this match, while Mickey Van Der Hart, Jordy De Wijs and Pawel Bochniewicz are ruled out this weekend through injury.
Feyenoord will be able to welcome Givairo Read back to the squad for this match, with the teenage full-back having now completed his suspension for the red card he was shown against PSV last week.
However, the visitors are still expected to be without at least four players due to injury, including Justin Bijlow, Bart Nieuwkoop, Chris-Kevin Nadje and long-term absentee Jordan Lotomba.
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Noppert; Braude, Kersten, Hopland, Petrov; Trenskow, Brouwers, Smans; Kohlert, Lukovic, Gurbuz
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Read, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Targhalline, Moder; Moussa, Stengs, Paixao; Ueda
We say: Heerenveen 2-2 Feyenoord
Feyenoord have been absolutely flying under Robin van Persie, but with their league position and a Champions League qualifier spot already secured, it will be interesting to see how they approach the final game of the season.
For Heerenveen, this is the most important match of the season, but it is against one of the most in-form teams in the league. Still, the hosts have been excellent at home this term, and we feel they will be able to get at least a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
