MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 08:49:26| >> :120:25819:25819:
[monks data]
FC Utrecht
Eredivisie | Gameweek 20
Feb 4, 2023 at 7pm UK
Stadion Galgenwaard
Heerenveen

Utrecht
1 - 0
Heerenveen

Douvikas (69' pen.)
Toornstra (84')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Bochniewicz (66'), van Ottele (86')

Preview: FC Utrecht vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Eredivisie clash between FC Utrecht and Heerenveen, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Off the back of a thrilling share of the spoils last time out, FC Utrecht welcome Heerenveen to the Stadion Galgenwaard on Saturday evening.

On the other hand, the away side make the trip this weekend aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat and get their league campaign back on track.


Match preview

FC Utrecht were involved in arguably the game of the season so far as they played out a 5-5 stalemate against AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday.

In a game which saw Vangelis Pavlidis and Anastasios Douvikas net hat-tricks for either side, Maxim Dekker, Mees de Wit, Nick Viergever and Sander van de Streek also got on the scoresheet to earn Michael Silberbauer's men a hard-fought point.

Having picked up 30 points from their 19 matches, the Domstedelingen sit seventh in the Eredivisie table, three points clear of the chasing pack in the race for the final European spot.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing side who are without a victory in the most recent 11 editions of this fixture dating back to May 2018.

Currently averaging just one goal per game across their nine home league outings this term, Saturday's hosts will need to up the ante at the attacking end of the pitch to turn things around in front of their fans.

Heerenveen came away empty-handed from Saturday's encounter against Vitesse following a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Kees van Wonderen's men opened the scoring through Pelle van Amersfoort midway through the first half before goals from Bartosz Bialek, Gabriel Vidovic and Million Manhoef turned the game on its head.

As a result, De Superfriezen have now fallen three points adrift of their next opponents in the league standings ahead of this weekend's clash which promises to be an exciting affair.

Winless in their most recent five matches on the road leading up to Saturday, the visitors will be keen to arrest their slump in form away from home.

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:


Team News

Bas Dost remains sidelined with a foot problem, and the 33-year-old is set to sit out a third consecutive game for Utrecht, while Ramon Hendriks also misses out through injury.

Django Warmerdam and Bart Ramselaar are also out of contention for the home side through injury, but the former is closing in on a return to action.

Following his three-goal haul last time out, Anastasios Douvikas has now netted five times in his last three starts, making him one to keep an eye on.

Heerenveen's Sven van Beek is unavailable through a ruptured Achilles tendon, and the Dutchman might have already played his final game of the season.

First-choice goalkeeper Andries Noppert continues to battle with a hip injury, meaning that Xavier Mous will retain his place between the sticks.

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Van der Hoorn, Toornstra, Viergever, Klaiber; Sagnan, Booth; Van de Streek, Boussaid, Bozdogan; Douvikas

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Mous; Van Aken, Haye, Bochniewicz; Tahiri, Olsson, Van Amersfoort, Kohlert, Van Ewijk; Halilovic, Van Hooijdonk


SM words green background

We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 Heerenveen

Judging by the league table, there is very little separating Saturday's opponents, and the clash could easily swing either way. That said, we are backing the hosts to narrowly pip their visitors to all three points come the end of the 90 minutes.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:505750:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9557:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Utrecht vs Heerenveen

FC Utrecht
86.7%
Draw
6.7%
Heerenveen
6.7%
15
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Feyenoord's Orkun Kokcu with teammates look dejected after the match SK Sturm Graz's Otar Kiteishvili scored their first goal on October 27, 2022
Read Next:
Wednesday's Eredivisie predictions including Feyenoord vs. NEC
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV16140256134342
2Ajax16113235161936
3FC UtrechtUtrecht1611323223936
4Feyenoord16105140182235
5FC Twente1694332201231
6AZ AlkmaarAZ1692530171329
7Go Ahead Eagles166462826222
8Fortuna SittardSittard166462023-322
9NAC BredaNAC Breda167181825-722
10Heerenveen166371728-1121
11Willem II165471718-119
12NECNijmegen165292220217
13PEC Zwolle164481525-1016
14Groningen164481426-1216
15Heracles163581833-1514
16Sparta RotterdamSparta162681424-1012
17RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk1613121740-236
18Almere CityAlmere City161312737-306


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!