FC Utrecht will attempt to secure their spot in the Eredivisie's Europa Conference League playoffs when they play host to RKC Waalwijk on Saturday.

The hosts head into the encounter in seventh position with a seven-point cushion over their opponents, who occupy eighth place.

Match preview

After losing 3-1 to league leaders Feyenoord on April 23, Utrecht returned to winning ways in empathic fashion when they made the trip to Leeuwarden to face Cambuur last weekend.

Sander van de Streek and Anastasios Douvikas both found the net in the closing stages of the first half to put Utrecht in the driving seat.

Just after the hour mark, Douvikas scored his second goal of the game from the penalty spot to wrap up a comfortable 3-0 victory that represented Utrecht's third win in four games.

With Utrecht boasting a seven-point gap to Waalwijk and Heerenveen, Michael Silberbauer's side know that a win on Saturday would guarantee them a place in the playoffs for Europa Conference League qualification.

Utrecht may be encouraged by the fact that they are unbeaten in five games against Waalwijk, but their last three meetings have all ended level.

Waalwijk's hopes of securing a playoff spot were dented by consecutive defeats to Go Ahead Eagles and AZ Alkmaar, but they managed to bounce back against Volendam last time out.

Goals from Yassin Oukili, Florian Jozefzoon, Mats Seuntjens and Julen Lobete guided Waalwijk to a commanding 4-0 home victory.

With three gams left to play, Joseph Oosting's side need to beat Utrecht on Saturday to keep their European aspirations alive, but that may be easier said than done due to their recent struggles on the road.

While they have recorded three successive home victories, Waalwijk travel to Stadion Galgenwaard off the back of three straight away defeats.

After conceding 11 goals across their last three away games, the visitors will need to improve defensively if they are to trouble Utrecht on Saturday.

Team News

Utrecht are unable to call upon Ramon Hendriks after the Feyenoord loanee picked up a knee injury last month which has ruled out for the rest of the season.

Luuk Browers, Django Warmerdam and Amin Younes are all sidelined, while goalkeeper Calvin Raatsie is closing in on a return to the squad following a lengthy layoff.

Victor Jensen could be brought into the side to replace Taylor Booth, who will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

As for the visitors, Iliass Bel Hassani is a doubt after missing the club's last six matches with an injury issue.

Lobete came off the bench to score Waalwijk's sixth goal last weekend, but he may have to settle for a place among the substitutes once again, with Oosting set to name an unchanged lineup.

Michiel Kramer has top scored for the hosts this season, and he will be looking to add to his 12-goal tally when he leads the line on Saturday.

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Klaiber, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, Van der Maarel; Toornstra, Van de Streek; Jensen, Douvikas, Boussaid; Dost

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Lelieveld, Gaari, Adewoye, Lutonda; Oukili, Anita, Clement; Seuntjens, Jozefzoon, Kramer

We say: FC Utrecht 2-2 RKC Waalwijk

Waalwijk know that only a win will do, but with the last three meetings between the two sides finishing all square, we think Saturday's contest will produce a familiar result.


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