FC Utrecht and PEC Zwolle will get their Eredivisie campaigns underway when they face off in Sunday's clash at Stadion Galgenwaard.
The hosts finished in seventh place in the top flight last term, while Zwolle ended the 2023-24 campaign in 12th position.
Match preview
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Last term, Utrecht collected 50 points from 34 league matches to achieve a seventh-placed finish for the third consecutive season.
As a result of their placing, Ron Jans's side went into the playoffs for Europa Conference League qualification, where they beat Sparta Rotterdam 3-1 in the semi-final before falling to an extra-time defeat in the final against Go Ahead Eagles.
After missing out on European qualification, Utrecht will enter the new campaign with hopes of ending their five-year wait for an appearance in a UEFA competition.
In the short term, their main focus will be getting off to a positive start in Sunday's league opener against Zwolle - a team that they thrashed 5-1 in April's meeting at Stadion Galgenwaard.
In fact, Sunday's hosts have won eight and drawn one of their previous nine competitive home games against Zwolle since they lost 2-0 in February 2015.
After winning promotion in the 2022-23 campaign, Zwolle would have been content with their efforts in the 2023-24 season, picking up 36 points from 34 matches to finish in 12th spot.
Zwolle ended the campaign with a seven-point gap to the bottom three, and they would likely accept a similar performance in the 2024-25 Eredivisie season.
Johnny Jansen's side have warmed up for the new season with a disappointing set of results, with their six friendlies producing two wins and four defeats.
Zwolle have also found wins hard to come by in their recent games against Utrecht, having won just one of their previous eight competitive meetings (D4, L3).
After ending the 2023-24 campaign with a seven-game winless away win, Zwolle will enter Sunday's league opener with aspirations of clinching their first Eredivisie away victory since February.
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Team News
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Utrecht are expected to enter the opening weekend of the season without the services of goalkeeper Kevin Gadellaa and summer signing Yoann Cathline.
In addition to Cathline, Utrecht have made several other additions to their attacking options, having signed Miguel Rodriguez, Paxten Aaronson, Noah Ohio and David Min.
The hosts have also recruited, right-back Siebe Horemans, centre-back Ryan Flamingo, midfielder Alonzo Engwanda and the goalkeeping duo of Tom de Graaff and Michael Brouwer.
As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon midfielder Ryan Thomas, who is continuing to work on his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Defender Anouar El Azzouzi is doubtful for the league opener after being forced off in the 15th minute of the recent friendly defeat to Venezia.
Zwolle have made five additions to Jansen's side ahead of the new season, having recruited Tristan Gooijer, Thierry Lutonda, Braydon Manu, Dylan Mbayo and Thomas Buitink.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Jensen, Engwanda, Iqbal; Toornstra, Okkels, Min
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Gooijer, Lam, Garcia MacNulty, Lutonda; Kastev, Van den Berg, Velanas; Manu, Reijnders, Buitink
We say: FC Utrecht 3-1 PEC Zwolle
Utrecht have won eight of their previous nine competitive home games against Zwolle, and we think that they will draw inspiration from that record to kick off the new Eredivisie campaign with a victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Sully
