In a match that could impact both the race for European football and the relegation battle in the Eredivisie, Go Ahead Eagles are set to host Willem II at De Adelaarshorst on Sunday.
The pride of IJssel Kowet are in strong form and will be looking for their fourth win on the bounce this weekend, while the Tricolores will be desperate to stop the rot.
Match preview
Paul Simonis's Go Ahead Eagles have won four of their last five matches across all competitions ahead of their clash with Willem II, and they will be confident of securing another vital three points as they dream of making the Europa League next season.
Last time out, the pride of IJssel Kowet beat NEC Nijmegen 3-2 away from home, but even though they triumphed, the manager will be concerned that his team have conceded seven goals in their four most recent games.
Regardless, that victory has left Simonis's side seventh in the Eredivisie with 41 points to their name, a comfortable nine more than eighth-placed Fortuna Sittard and 11 more than ninth-placed Heerenveen.
The hosts are now five points behind FC Twente in the division's spot for entry into the Europa League qualifiers, and given that they are on a 10-game unbeaten streak at De Adelaarshorst that includes eight wins, they will be expecting to shorten the gap this weekend.
A fourth consecutive victory could take Go Ahead Eagles above AZ Alkmaar and into sixth place, where they may also be level on points with Feyenoord in fifth.
Meanwhile, Peter Maes's Willem II are in contrasting form and are hoping to put an end to their eight-game winless run with the threat of relegation looming large.
Most recently, the Tricolores lost 3-2 on their own turf against Utrecht despite taking the lead through Boris Lambert early in the first half.
That defeat was the third on the bounce for Maes's side, and they now find themselves in the top-flight's relegation playoff spot after being overtaken by Sparta Rotterdam, who managed to earn a point last time out.
Survival is by no means out of reach for the visitors, but they may have to wait to claw their way to safety considering that they have failed to win any of their away matches in 2025 and have only taken maximum points on the road once since early November.
That being said, an unlikely three points on Saturday would be enough to land Willem II as high as 12th in the table, though it will be a tough ask with a leaky defence that has conceded 10 goals in their last three games.
Team News
Go Ahead Eagles are expected to be without midfielder Calvin Twigt this weekend, so Simonis is likely to turn to a duo of Evert Linthorst and Enric Llansana, with Victor Kaj Edvardsen operating in an attacking role in front of them.
Further forward, the hosts are missing a number of players including Jakob Breum and Finn Stokkers, though Oliver Antman, Milan Smit and Mathis Suray have performed well in attack recently.
As for Willem II, midfielders Amine Lachkar and Dani Mathieu are both unavailable for the away clash.
In their absence, Jesse Bosch, Ringo Meerveld will be joined by Boris Lambert, who opened the scoring last weekend.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Linthorst, Llansana; Antman, Edvardsen, Suray; Smit
Willem II possible starting lineup:
Didillon; Jago, Behounek, Schouten; Tirpan, Bosch, Lambert, Meerveld, Sigurgeirsson; Bokila, Vaesen
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 3-1 Willem II
Neither side have been the strongest defensively in recent matches, so expect both teams to be on the scoresheet this weekend.
That being said, Go Ahead Eagles are in strong form as they chase down their rivals in the European places, and they look likely to pick up another three points on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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