Seeking to end a run of back-to-back defeats in the league, PEC Zwolle will welcome Dutch champions Feyenoord to MAC PARK Stadion on Sunday afternoon in a tasty-looking Eredivisie encounter.
The hosts have received a deal of criticism following their 2-1 loss at Heracles last time out, whereas Feyenoord will be looking to get back to winning ways following a narrow defeat in the Champions League to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Match preview
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After earning a healthy seven points from three games in the Eredivisie against Utrecht, newly-promoted Almere City and local rivals Go Ahead Eagles, PEC Zwolle have suffered successive defeats for the second time in the 2023-24 term.
Zwolle were undoubtedly second best against title-chasing AZ Alkmaar nearly a fortnight ago, before Sunday's hosts were disappointingly defeated at Erve Asito against Heracles last Sunday in front of 11,000 supporters at the Almelo-based club.
Johnny Jansen's men started the game brightly and took the lead in the first half thanks to a strike from German Lennart Thy, but the visitors seemed to run out of steam in the second period - sparking concerns from the local media of fitness issues within the squad - allowing Swede Emil Hansson to bag brace to secure all three points for John Lammers's side.
The Blauwvingers currently occupy seventh position in the Eredivisie standings after collecting seven points from their opening seven league outings - a respectable tally from a side who were promoted from the Dutch second tier alongside the aforementioned Heracles and Almere City in May.
Gaining the status of a top-tier club allowed Zwolle to recruit handsomely in the summer transfer window, with the likes of Nico Serrano and Anselmo Garcia McNulty arriving from Athletic Bilbao and Wolfsburg respectively as PEC look to surprise the division with an influx of exciting youngsters.
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Feyenoord return to domestic action this weekend following an ultimately-unsuccessful Wednesday night in Spain against Diego Simeone's hardened Atletico troops, who won a five-goal thriller 3-2 at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano in the Champions League.
The Dutch champions were certainly the superior footballing outfit in Madrid and raced into a 2-1 lead in the first period due to an own goal from Mario Hermoso and a David Hancko finish, but Arne Slot's men had their net breached by Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann later on to leave the Eredivisie side third in Group E after two matchweeks.
The Rotterdam-based club have fared well domestically so far as they attempt to secure back-to-back league crowns for the first time since 1962, with Feyenoord sitting in fourth after earning 17 points from their opening seven contests, with Slot's charges joining leaders PSV Eindhoven and AZ as the only three teams yet to be defeated in the competition.
The Pride of the South were known for their defensive robustness on their way to silverware in 2022-23, but it has been the club's attacking stars who have grabbed the headlines so far, with Feyenoord scoring 26 times in seven league matches - three more than Peter Bosz's PSV who currently lead the pack.
Key to their clinical edge in front of goal has been Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez, who has already made the net ripple on 10 occasions in seven Eredivisie appearances - the 22-year-old managed 15 goals in 32 matches last campaign after making the switch from his homeland in 2022.
Team News
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PEC Zwolle continue to adapt to life in the Eredivisie without a key cog from their promotion-winning season in 2022-23, with New Zealand international Ryan Thomas still in the medical room for Sunday's hosts.
Samir Lagsir provided five goal contributions in just 12 second-tier appearances from left-back last campaign before his term was cut short by a knock sustained in February, and the 20-year-old's sustained absence means McNulty will continue in a full-back role.
Ferdy Druijf is set to partner last weekend's scorer Thy in the Zwolle two-man forward line, with Eliano Reijnders and Younes Namli expected to be tasked with providing service from the flanks.
Feyenoord are close to welcoming back first-choice goalkeeper Justin Bijlow after the 25-year-old broke his wrist in August, although Timon Wellenreuther has been a capable deputy in the meantime and should retain his place in the XI ahead of the international break.
The Dutch champions remain without the services of winger Luka Ivanusec, who was stretchered off with an ankle injury during the 2-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League, with the Croatian targeting a return to action after the temporary pause in club football.
Calvin Stengs will be handed the job of chief playmaker for Slot's side as they aim to earn their sixth win in eight Eredivisie contests at the start of this term - the attacking midfielder has provided five assists in seven appearances so far.
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Van Polen, Kersten, Lam, McNulty; Namli, Van den Berg, Buurmeester, Reijnders; Druijf, Thy
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Timber, Wieffer, Minteh, Stengs, Paixao; Gimenez
We say: PEC Zwolle 0-2 Feyenoord
Apart from a goalless draw with Fortuna Sittard on the opening day of the Eredivisie, Feyenoord have netted at least twice in each of their league matches, and we fully expect that trend to continue in Zwolle on Sunday.
PEC are starting to slide down the league standings owing to a three-match winless streak, and the visit of the champions is not an obvious time for Jansen's men to get back to winning ways.
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Top tip
Carter White
