Gameweek seven of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season commences with a clash between FC Utrecht and NEC at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Friday evening.
The home side are looking to make it three league wins on the bounce for the first time in the current campaign, while the visitors seek a first victory in five outings.
Match preview
FC Utrecht picked up a second straight win courtesy of a narrow 1-0 triumph over Vitesse in last Sunday's meeting between the teams.
Henk Fraser's men looked set to drop points on their own turf for the third game running before a late strike from Bas Dost got the job done.
Consequently, the Domstedelingen have moved up to eighth place in the league table and now sit just a point shy of newcomers SBV Excelsior in the race for the last European place.
Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who are yet to come out on top in any of the most recent five editions of this fixture, losing four of them.
Having scored the second-fewest goals in home matches this term, Friday's hosts will need to up the ante at the attacking end of the pitch as they go in search of back to back wins in front of their fans for the first time since November.
NEC had to make do with a point for the four game on the bounce following a 1-1 draw against Fortuna Sittard at the Goffertstadion on Saturday.
Rogier Meijer's men fell behind to Oguzhan Ozyakup's opener in the 71st minute before drawing level through Pedro Marques in the dying embers.
With eight points dropped from their last four outings, the Eniesee have slipped to 10th place in the Eredivisie standings, one point and two place behind their next opponents.
Unbeaten in four games on the road leading up to Friday's contest, the away side will be confident of giving a good account of themselves on enemy territory once again.
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Team News
Tommy St Jago, Bart Ramselaar and Reda Akmum are currently battling with knee injuries and will not be available to feature for Utrecht in this one.
Meanwhile, Ramon Hendriks continues to face an extended spell on the treatment table due to a cruciate ligament rupture, and the 21-year-old is also ruled out for the home side.
Twenty-year-old Arthur Zagre remains without an appearance this season due to a muscle injury which is set to keep him out of Friday's contest as well.
Philippe Sandler continues his spell on the treatment table due to an ankle injury, and the Dutchman will not play any part for NEC Nijmegen in this one.
The away side will also be without the services of Mathias De Wolf, who remains sidelined with a muscle injury that has seen him not feature since April.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Van der Kust, Viergever, Van der Maarel, Ter Avest; Boussaid, Brouwers, Toornstra, Sylla; Dost, Douvikas
NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; El Karouani, Kramer, Marquez, Van Rooy; Schone, Proper; Duelund, Tannane, Tavsan; Dimata
We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 NEC
Buoyed by their recent run of results, Utrecht will feel confident of coming away with all three points here, and while we expect NEC to put up a good fight, we are backing the hosts to emerge victorious at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
