Go Ahead Eagles and RKC Waalwijk draw the curtain on round three of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season with a meeting at De Adelaarshorst.
Both teams still await their first points of the new campaign, having been beaten in both of their two domestic outings so far heading into Sunday's encounter.
Match preview
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Go Ahead Eagles recorded their highest league position since gaining promotion courtesy of a ninth-place finish in the 2023-24 campaign, but this season has kicked off on a bad note.
Paul Simonis's men were knocked out by Norwegian outfit Brann in the second round of the Conference League qualifiers before starting their Eredivisie journey with a 2-0 defeat against Fortuna Sittard on August 11.
Taking on a newly promoted Willem II side last time out, the pride of the IJssel Kowet would have fancied their chances of coming away with all three points, but they were in for a huge shock as first-half goals from Kyan Vaesen and Ringo Meerveld condemned the Eagles to defeat in Tilburg.
One of five teams without a point on the board so far, Go Ahead Eagles currently sit 16th in the Eredivisie table and are still yet to score a league goal this term, while also drawing blanks in three of their four outings across all competitions.
With three of their next four matches coming against teams who finished above them last season, Sunday's hosts are faced with a tough run of matches as they look to get themselves back on track.
Three points on home turf this weekend would definitely represent a step in the right direction for the hosts, who have struggled in front of their fans of late with just one win in seven competitive games leading up to Sunday's contest.
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Beating the drop only on goal difference, Waalwijk just about managed to preserve their top-flight status last time out and could be set for another relegation battle based on the evidence of their first two games.
Taking on defending champions PSV Eindhoven, Henk Fraser's men were handed a tough opening assignment that ended in a comprehensive 5-1 thrashing at the Philips Stadion on August 10.
However, Waalwijk were also left red-faced in their most recent involvement against newcomers Groningen in a disappointing 2-1 defeat on Saturday evening.
Managing just five clean sheets from 34 games, RKC were defensively suspect for large spells of last season, and their tally of seven goals conceded is the most of any team in the division so far.
They will now seek to return to winning ways this weekend and exact revenge on an opposing outfit who completed a league double across both of last season's meetings.
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Team News
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Denmark international Aske Adelgaard could be handed his debut in this one, having recently completed a switch to Go Ahead Eagles from Denmark outfit Odense.
Since Jeffrey De Lange's departure to Marseille, Luca Plogmann has nailed down a starting spot between the sticks and is set to feature once again.
The home side will take to the field without the services of Julius Dirksen and Oliver Edvardsen, who are currently ruled out through knee and foot injuries respectively.
Waalwijk's Nouri El Harmazi is still nursing a shoulder problem which has sidelined him for over a year as the midfielder missed the entirety of last season.
Oskar Zawada also misses out for the visitors this weekend after receiving his marching orders in the defeat to Groningen.
Zawada's absence should see Richonell Margaret come into the lineup off the back of consecutive substitute appearances for the 23-year-old.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Plogmann; James, Amofa, Kramer, Deijl; Llansana, Tengstedt, Linthorst; Breum, V Edvardsen, Adekanye
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Houwen; Lelieveld, Van Ejima, Van den Buijs, Meijers; Roemeratoe, Oukili; Cleonise, Van der Venne, Lokesa; Margaret
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 RKC Waalwijk
With both teams low on confidence at the moment, Sunday's meeting represents an opportunity to get their league season up and running with all three points.
We can see Go Ahead Eagles just about doing enough to emerge victorious at the end of the 90 minutes in Deventer.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
