Off the back of consecutive stalemates, Heerenveen draw the curtain on their 2022-23 Eredivisie campaign with a meeting against Go Ahead Eagles at the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Sunday.
With both teams still in contention for a European place heading into the final matchday, this weekend's meeting promises to be a keenly-contested affair.
Match preview
Heerenveen played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against PSV Eindhoven when the sides went head-to-head at the Philips Stadion on Sunday afternoon.
After going behind to Ibrahim Sangare's opener, Kees van Wonderen's men hit back through Milan van Ewijk before turning the game on its head thanks to Antoine Colassin's double, only for late goals from Luuk de Jong and Xavi Simons to force a share of the spoils.
Consequently, De Superfriezen remain eighth in the Eredivisie table, two points clear of RKC Waalwijk in the race for the final Conference League playoff spot.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have only come out on top in only one of the last 16 editions of this fixture across all competitions.
Currently on a run of one win in nine home matches leading up to Sunday's clash, the hosts will be keen to put on a show in front of their fans and bolster their chances of securing continental football for next season.
Go Ahead Eagles claimed what was arguably their most impressive win of the campaign as they handed out a 3-0 thrashing to FC Volendam at De Adelaarshorst on Sunday.
Rene Hake's men broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time through Isac Lidberg after which second-half goals from Oliver Edvardsen and Dario Serra sealed the deal.
Having picked up 40 points from 33 matches to date, the pride of the IJssel Kowet have moved up to 10th in the standings, albeit just three points shy of this weekend's opponents.
Off the back of three consecutive away defeats by a combined score of 7-1, Sunday's visitors will need to up the ante at both ends of the pitch to stand any chance of coming away with a positive result.
Team News
Heerenveen's Andries Noppert is still out of contention through a long-term hip injury which has seen him sidelined for the last four months.
Sven van Beek and Joost van Aken also miss out for the hosts through Achilles and knee problems respectively, while Timo Zaal is yet to make his return to action.
Taking into account his two-goal haul against PSV, Antoine Colassin has netted three times in his three matches and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
Gerrit Nauber is currently down with a hip problem and will not play any part for Go Ahead Eagles alongside Finn Stokkers, Fredrik Oppegard and Evert Linthorst.
Dario Serra got himself on the scoresheet within two minutes of coming on as a substitute last time out, and he could be rewarded with a place in the starting XI.
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Mous; Kohlert, Van Ottele, Bruma, Van Ewijk; Tahiri, Haye, Olsson; Sahraoui, Van Hooijdonk, Colassin
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Lange; Deijl, Amofa, Idzes, Kuipers; Blomme, Rommens; Adekanye, Willumsson, Edvardsen; Lidberg
We say: Heerenveen 1-0 Go Ahead Eagles
With the two lowest-scoring sides in the top 10 facing off against each other, we are anticipating a nervy and cagey affair with the home side narrowly getting the job done in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
