Sunday's Eredivisie action will kick off at lunchtime at De Adelaarshorst in Deventer, where the Go Ahead Eagles will face off against FC Utrecht.
The hosts are currently in fifth place in the league standings with 22 points after 14 games, while the visitors are down in 14th with 13 points over the same period.
Match preview
It has been an excellent few years for Go Ahead Eagles, who continue to make steady improvements, having only earned promotion to the top flight back in the 2020-21 season.
After finishing 13th in their first season in the Eredivisie and following that up with a solid 11th place last term, The pride of the IJssel Kowet are now dreaming of European football next season.
The hosts were beaten 3-1 in their last match by Twente, which opened the gap to the fourth-placed side to eight points, although that was the first defeat they had conceded in seven league matches.
Rene Hake's side will now look to bounce back to the solid home form that saw them put together a run of eight matches unbeaten prior to that loss last week.
Go Ahead Eagles won the last meeting between these sides 2-1 at Stadion Galgenwaard last season and have not lost to this opponent in their last four encounters dating back to January 2017.
In contrast to their opponents, Utrecht are a long way from the form that saw them finish in seventh place in the Eredivisie last season.
The Cathedral citizens began the season with four consecutive losses against PSV, Heerenveen, PEC Zwolle and Feyenoord and had to wait until the middle of September to register their first point of the campaign with a 3-1 win over Heracles.
However, during the October international break, new boss Ron Jans worked his magic, and his side returned with a 4-3 win over Ajax and have been unbeaten ever since, with four draws and a win in their last five.
With that run of results, Utrecht have pulled themselves out of the drop zone, although the job is far from done as they are still tied with Almere City, who occupy the relegation playoff spot at the moment.
Team News
Finn Stokkers remains unavailable for the hosts in this one as the centre-forward continues his recovery from an eye injury that has had him on the treatment table since the start of the season.
Luca Everink and Xander Blomme are also expected to miss this match through injury, although Blomme is likely to return before the New Year.
Defender Mike van der Hoorn sustained a broken rib against Excelsior last month and is expected to face a spell on the sidelines.
The visitors will also be without the services of Anthony Descotte and Ole ter Haar Romeny, with the former yet to feature since October.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Lange; Deijl, Kramer, Amofa, Kuipers; Rommens, Willumsson; Sow, Martinsen, Linthorst; Edvardsen
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Ter Avest, Flamingo, Viergever; Leliendal; Bozdogan, Fraulo; Boussaid, Jensen, Seuntjens; Lidberg
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 2-2 FC Utrecht
While Go Ahead Eagles have been very impressive this season, Utrecht seem to have found top gear in the last couple of months and have taken points off the likes of Twente and Sparta Rotterdam on the road in that time. The visitors are certainly on the up at the moment, and we fancy them to claim a share of the spoils in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
