Feyenoord will look to recover from a damaging defeat over the weekend when they welcome FC Volendam to De Kuip on Thursday.
Losing to PSV Eindhoven here on Sunday leaves Arne Slot's side 10 points adrift of the record-breaking league leaders, with a title defence now looking in serious doubt.
Match preview
© Reuters
Just a third domestic home defeat of the season has left Feyenoord's title challenge in tatters, despite only just entering December.
The loss against PSV compounded a devastating week for the Rotterdam club, after defeat to Atletico Madrid last midweek also knocked them out of the Champions League.
For a team that has become so accustomed to winning regularly, four defeats in seven games will come as a huge shock for Feyenoord.
That is especially true at home, with De Kuip often seen as a fortress, but after seven straight wins here, Feyenoord have lost back-to-back home games.
Thanks to improving performances from Dutch clubs in Europe though, second place in the Eredivisie now gets an automatic Champions League group stage spot, so even though the title is slipping away fast, there is still plenty for Slot's side to target.
Feyenoord have been far from underwhelming too, averaging three-goals-per-game and taking 32 points from 14 games, as PSV's brilliance is what has left everybody in their wake.
Volendam are unlikely to offer much of a threat to what is expected to be three straightforward points for the hosts, considering they have lost on every trip here since 1989.
Four of Volendam's last seven visits have also seen them ship five goals, but they were unfortunate last season on their return to the top flight, going down 2-1 thanks to a late own goal by Damon Mirani after leading at the interval.
This campaign, though, they look in much deeper trouble, especially after a 5-0 thrashing at home by Zwolle at the weekend, leaving Matthias Kohler's job in serious jeopardy.
Sitting level on points with Vitesse in the bottom two, Volendam are five points from safety having the worst defensive record in the division, and now having lost four games in a row, including one in the cup to amateur side Excelsior Maassluis.
Away form has been a big factor in their struggles, as they have not won on the road since their first game of 2023, at Cambuur on January 8, a side who would go on to be relegated.
In the 18 away games that have come and gone since, Volendam have won none and lost 15, leaving this looking like a near-impossible task.
Team News
© Reuters
Feyenoord could be without Quilindschy Hartman due to concussion after he was substituted at half time against PSV following the horrific clash of heads with Jordan Teze.
The hosts are already struck down by a number of injuries, with wingers Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Yankuba Minteh both currently absent, along with Ayase Ueda and Bart Nieuwkoop.
Top scorer Santiago Gimenez will hope for a more positive evening after some mixed fortunes in recent games.
The Mexican striker netted a hat-trick at Excelsior, before scoring an own goal against Atletico, and then despite getting on the scoresheet against PSV, it was in vain as Feyenoord were unable to mount a comeback.
Volendam midfielder Luke Le Roux is still yet to make his debut for the club since arriving from Varberg in Sweden over the summer, with injury keeping him out.
Koen Blommestijn has also been absent all season so far, while teenager Joey Antonioli has now missed two months with an injury of his own.
Xavier Mbuyamba made a return off the bench at the weekend though, following a six-week absence, and he could return to the starting XI here.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Timber, Zerrouki; Stengs, Gimenez, Ivanusec
FC Volendam possible starting lineup:
Backhaus; Buur, Mbuyamba, Flint, Cox; De Haan, Mirani, Twigt; Ould-Chikh, Muhren, Booth
We say: Feyenoord 5-0 FC Volendam
Despite a morale-damaging defeat to PSV at the weekend, Feyenoord should have little trouble in returning to winning ways against a side deep in the relegation battle.
Volendam have suffered some bruising defeats already this season, with 36 goals conceded being the worst in the division, and after losing 15 of their last 18 away games, they are unlikely to improve on that record here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
