FC Utrecht play host to Groningen on Sunday looking for the victory that will keep them in the hunt for a top-three finish in the Eredivisie table.
At a time when the home side sit in fourth position, Groningen are in 11th spot and on the brink of securing their top-flight status for another season.
Match preview
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Having spent much of the campaign competing for Champions League qualification, it would come as a disappointment to everyone associated with FC Utrecht if they did not achieve that feat.
Nevertheless, this remains an incredible season for Ron Jans‘s side, and three wins from their last five fixtures has kick-started their efforts to finish in the top three.
Victories over NAC Breda, Willem II and Heerenveen have created a six-point advantage over fifth-placed FC Twente with just six matches remaining.
However, Feyenoord in third will remain the target and the Cathedral Citizens will need to take advantage of games such as this one when Ajax are the next visitors to Stadion Galgenwaard.
That said, Utrecht only possess the ninth-best home record in the division and have conceded more times than they have scored. Furthermore, they have lost three of their most recent six games on familiar territory.
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As for Groningen, they have edged ever closer to securing survival in their first year back in the top flight, sitting eight point clear of the bottom three.
Although they have recently suffered back-to-back defeats to Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, a five-match unbeaten run preceded that streak.
An 11-point haul over that period could ultimately prove pivotal come the end of the season, yet Dick Lukkien and his players can take nothing for granted when they still have three of the top six teams in the division on their schedule.
Groningen have one of the worst away records in the Eredivisie, winning just twice in 14 games and conceding 31 goals.
Team News
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Kolbeinn Finnsson and Oscar Fraulo are both in contention for starts for Utrecht after their first-half introductions against Go Ahead Eagles made a difference.
Within six minutes of their arrival, Utrecht were level in that contest, and Souffian El Karouani and Alonzo Engwanda seem likely to miss out.
Lukkien may also decide to tinker with his Groningen XI, the likes of Brynjolfur Willumsson and Finn Stam pushing for starts in attack and defence.
Leandro Bacuna is another player who could be drafted back into the team, yet Lukkien may not over-react to a defeat to a club of PSV’s standing.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, Finnsson; Iqbal, Fraulo; Rodriguez, Aaronson, Cathline; Haller
Groningen possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Rente, Ekdal, Peersman, Stam; De Jonge, Resink; Willumsson, Valente, Kwakman; Van Bergen
We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 Groningen
With Groningen having recently earned a draw with fifth-placed Twente, they cannot be ruled out of this contest. Nevertheless, even with the stakes getting higher for Utrecht, we are backing them to earn a hard-fought win this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
