Sunday's Eredivisie action will get underway with a top-half clash at Stadion Galgenwaard where FC Utrecht will be playing hosts to Go Ahead Eagles.
Both sides are coming off commanding league wins last weekend and will be looking to keep their momentum going leading up to the December break.
Match preview
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Utrecht continued their impressive run of form on matchday 15, picking up their 11th win of the season (W11 D2 L2) with a solid 3-1 win over relegation favourites Almere City on the road.
That result saw Utreg move to 35 points this term, seven points behind PSV, and it also allowed them to regain second place in the league standings from Ajax, who suffered a 2-1 away defeat to AZ Alkmaar earlier in the day.
Ron Jans's side have now scored 14 goals across their last six top-flight matches since the start of November and suffered only one defeat during that period, which was against the Boeren at the start of this month.
However, while Utrecht have fared well in attack so far this term, averaging a shade under two goals per 90, Jans will be looking for improvement in defence over the second half of the season, with his side having already conceded 20 goals - the joint-most of the top six teams.
Notably, the hosts have earned fewer points at home this season (15) than on the road (20), though the two defeats they have conceded at Stadion Galgenwaard were against formidable opponents in PSV and Feyenoord.
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Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles are having another progressive season in the top flight and leapfrogged Fortuna Sittard into the top eight last week after thumping NEC 5-0 at De Adelaarshorst.
Headlining that result for the pride of the IJssel was Norwegian attacker Oliver Valaker Edvardsen, who netted a hat-trick in 20 minutes during the first half to take his side into the break with the three points already secured.
Notably, under the guidance of Paul Simonis, Go Ahead Eagles have experienced an improvement in their attacking output, now on 25 goals for the season, just four fewer than their upcoming opponent.
However, the next task for the new boss is to find improvement in his side's away performances, having only managed to earn seven of their 21 points on the road, while they are currently winless in their last three.
Team News
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Following a spell on the sidelines due to illness, former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal has now started the last two games for Utrecht and should keep his spot in the double-pivot after getting on the scoresheet last week.
The hosts are expected to be without four players for this match owing to injury, including Alonzo Engwanda (unspecified), Kevin Gadellaa (knee), Can Bozdogan (Achilles) and Anthony Descotte (muscle).
Edvardsen's hat-trick last weekend took his tally for the season to seven goals in 10 games, leaving him fourth in the leading goal-scorer standings, four goals behind Twente's Sem Steijn.
Soeren Tengstedt, Dean James and Robbin Weijenberg are all flagged as minor doubts for this match due to knocks, though none of them have been ruled out for this weekend trip.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Vesterlund, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Iqbal, Aaronson; Cathline, Toornstra, Rodriguez; Min
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Plogmann; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Llansana, Linthorst; Antman, Martinsen, O. Edvardsen; V. Edvardsen
We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles
While Go Ahead Eagles recorded an impressive victory last weekend, they have found wins on the road hard to come by this season, and we feel they will struggle to overcome Utrecht on their home patch in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
