Robin van Persie kicks off his reign as Feyenoord head coach with a home fixture against NEC in the Eredivisie.
At a time when the home side sit in third position in the standings, the visitors are in 12th place, five points clear of the relegation zone.
Match preview
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While Van Persie would have dreamed of taking charge of his former club at some point in his managerial career, he would not have envisaged that the chance would come right now.
After 26 matches with Heerenveen, the former forward has returned to De Kuip to try to guide the club to a top-two finish in the Eredivisie and go deep in the Champions League.
Van Persie will take charge of five games across a 16-day period, including a double-header with Inter Milan, but focus is firmly on this weekend's fixture for the time being.
Seven points have been accumulated from the last three fixtures to move Feyenoord into third place, the foundations laid for Van Persie to start his reign on a high.
A total of 23 points have come from 11 home league fixtures during 2024-25, a period of seven wins and just two defeats being posted since August.
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As for NEC, they have under-performed to such an extent this season that replicating their sixth-placed finish from the last campaign is already out of their reach.
Rogier Meijer's side sit just five points clear of the bottom three, not helped by winning only twice across a 11-game period.
Although a notable 3-3 draw was registered against PSV Eindhoven at the start of February, just one point has been collected from their last three outings.
That was a comeback draw against bottom-placed Almere City, before they went down to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Twente last time out.
Team News
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Van Persie's first Feyenoord XI is a complete unknown, yet he may not wish to tinker with a team that edged out Almere City last time out.
Ibrahim Osman is an option to come back into the side on the right flank, but Julian Carranza is in line to retain his spot down the middle of the attack.
Feyenoord's injury list is currently in double figures, restricting Van Persie when it comes to alternatives.
Koki Ogawa could return to the NEC attack to take the place of Bryan Linssen.
However, that may prove to be the only change, with Ivan Marquez, Philippe Sandler and Kodai Sano remaining on the sidelines.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Hartman; Milambo, Moder, Paixao; Moussa, Carranza, Ivanusec
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Pereira, Nuytinck, Verdonk, Ouwejan; Hoedemakers, Proper; Ouaissa, Van Crooij, Hansen; Linssen
We say: Feyenoord 2-1 NEC
NEC will feel that they are making the trip to Feyenoord at the right time with expectations high on the back of Van Persie's arrival. However, we are backing the home side to come through in a nervy game.
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Darren Plant
