Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Eredivisie clash between FC Utrecht and PEC Zwolle, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Looking for a fourth win on the bounce, FC Utrecht welcome PEC Zwolle to the Stadion Galgenwaard on Saturday.
The teams are currently separated by six points in the Eredivisie table, with Utrecht currently in eighth, and their visitors six places below.
Match preview
After they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Vitesse two weeks ago, Utrecht have responded with three wins in a row, scoring four goals and conceding none in that time.
Dutch midfielder Sander van de Streek has been directly involved in three of those four goals, including the winner in his side’s 1-0 away victory over AZ on Wednesday.
That impressive run has moved Rene Hake‘s men to within a point of seventh-placed Twente as things stand, with qualification for European football now looking like an achievable target.
Next up is a fixture which has often yielded a positive result for the Domstedelingen, who have won their last six home games in all competitions versus Saturday’s visitors.
Zwolle were on course for a third defeat of the year after falling behind to Heracles Almelo 2-0 at half time.
However, they put up an inspired display in the second half, reducing the deficit through Virgil Misidjan, before Reza Ghoochannejhad came off the bench to level the game at 2-2.
John Stegeman‘s men have now picked up four points from their last two games, on the back of two defeats in a row to Feyenoord and Fortuna Sittard prior to that.
With a 10-point buffer over ADO Den Haag in 16th place, it is safe to say that the Blauwvingers will not be involved in any relegation scrap this year.
FC Utrecht Eredivisie form: DDLWWW
PEC Zwolle Eredivisie form: WDLLWD
Team News
Eljero Elia is still unavailable for Utrecht due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out for the past four games.
Emil Bergstrom is also expected to miss the game with a muscle problem which he suffered last December against PSV Eindhoven.
Kenneth Paal and Mike van Duinen were both injury casualties in Zwolle’s win versus Willem II last Friday, and they will not be taking part in this one.
The away side will also be without Slobodan Tedic, who is out with a damaged rib, but he is expected to return to action in the coming weeks.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Oelschlagel; Warmerdam, Janssen, St Jago, Ter Avest; Maher, Boussaid, Van Overeem; Ramselaar, Van De Streek, Kerk
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Nakayama, Van Polen, Kersten, Wermeskerken; Huiberts, Lam, Reijnders; Pherai, Buitink, Misidjan
We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 PEC Zwolle
Given the history of this fixture as well as the form of both sides coming into this one, it is hard to see anything beyond a home victory, although you can expect the away side to make it a proper contest
Top betting tip
— to www.sportsmole.co.uk
