FC Utrecht and Feyenoord square off on Sunday with both clubs vying for second place in the Eredivisie standings behind PSV Eindhoven.
The home side are currently one of the surprise packages in European football in occupying second spot, the visitors six points adrift in third position.
Match preview
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Having finished in seventh place last season, there was the possibility that Utrecht could build on that and challenge for the top five.
However, few people would have foreseen an outstanding start to the campaign where they have accumulated 22 points from a possible 24, with their only draw coming away at Heerenveen.
Since then, Ron Jans has witnessed his team record six successive victories, scoring 13 goals in the process, to remain five points adrift of runaway leaders PSV with a game in hand.
While it should be noted that their toughest match on paper has come at AZ Alkmaar, they deserve full credit for putting themselves in a position where they can challenge for Champions League qualification at the end of the season.
Much may come down to how they perform in fixtures of this magnitude, particularly at Stadion Galgenwaard where their four successive victories have all come by one-goal margins.
From Feyenoord's perspective, they have not lost an Eredivisie fixture since December 3, but they find themselves off the pace in Brian Priske's first season in charge.
Half of their eight matches have ended in draws, while they have also kept just the one clean sheet in a 2-0 win over NAC Breda.
Last weekend's 5-1 triumph at Go Ahead Eagles felt like a statement of intent, but Feyenoord already sit 11 points adrift of PSV, albeit with a game in hand.
Feyenoord have been outstanding in their most recent two Champions League fixtures, backing up a 3-2 success at Girona by overcoming Benfica by a 3-1 scoreline earlier this week.
Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, Jans appears unlikely to make any changes to his Utrecht XI for this game.
Although Jens Toornstra has been a regular this season, the veteran midfielder was only introduced as a late substitute last time out.
Vasilios Barkas, Alonzo Engwanda and Kevin Gadellaa are all expected to miss out through injury.
Priske could take a similar approach with the selection of his Feyenoord side after their impressive triumph in Portugal.
As many as six players, including Calvin Stengs and Santiago Gimenez, will all miss out on this fixture.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Brouwer; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, Karouani; Fraulo, Aaronson; Romeny, Jensen, Cathline; Min
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Lotomba, Trauner, Hancko, Bueno; Milambo, Hwang, Timber; Osman, Ueda, Paixao
We say: FC Utrecht 1-2 Feyenoord
This has all the makings of being the game of the weekend, Utrecht in a position where they will really be in business if they can win their eighth match in nine outings. However, we are backing Feyenoord to come out on top, with their superior quality coming to the fore when required.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
