In what is set to be their toughest test of the 2024-25 Eredivisie campaign so far, newcomers Groningen entertain the challenge of Feyenoord at Euroborg on Saturday evening.
Both teams had to make do with a share of the spoils in their final outings before the international break and will now set out in search of an immediate return to winning ways.
Match preview
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Feyenoord kicked off the new season with a penalty-shootout victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield final, but their league journey so far has been relatively underwhelming.
Brian Priske's men kicked off proceedings with a disappointing 1-1 stalemate against newly promoted Willem II on August 10 before thrashing PEC Zwolle 5-1 in their subsequent involvement eight days later.
Any momentum from their emphatic win over Zwolle was quickly halted as De Stadionclub were guilty of dropping points once again in the Rotterdam derby against Sparta last time out, leaving them with five points from three outings.
Albeit with a game in hand, Feyenoord are already seven points adrift of reigning champions PSV at the top of the Eredivisie table as they look to reclaim domestic supremacy after relinquishing their title last season.
Ahead of the start of Champions League duty against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen five days later, Saturday's visitors now go in search of a morale-boosting victory this weekend to help get themselves back on track.
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Returning to the Eredivisie after a one-year absence, Groningen have taken to life back in the Dutch top flight like a duck to water, having successfully navigated the opening four rounds of matches without defeat.
Consecutive victories against NAC Breda and RKC Waalwijk to start the campaign have been followed by back-to-back draws against AZ Alkmaar and Almere City to leave Dick Lukkien's men on eight points from a possible 12 this term.
That tally is only bettered by three teams, and Trots van het Noorden currently sit fourth in the standings, thanks in no small part to Leandro Bacuna's attacking exploits from right back with two goals and two assists to his name already.
Groningen's unbeaten start is set to come under heavy threat this weekend as they face off against an opposing side who are unbeaten in eight straight editions of this fixture since February 2019.
The most recent meeting between Saturday's opponents came in last season's KNVB Beker semi-final, where the home side suffered a 2-1 defeat which remains their only loss in the last 24 matches to date.
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Team News
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Latest summer arrivals Jordan Lotomba and Hwang In-beom—who both joined on September 1—are available to make their debuts, and the former could be handed a starting role due to the departure of Lutsharel Geertruida.
Defenders Quilindschy Hartman and Gernot Trauner are both out of contention for Feyenoord as they continue to nurse knee and muscle injuries respectively.
Ramiz Zerrouki will also not be playing any part for the away side here as he serves a one-game suspension for receiving his marching orders against Sparta Rotterdam.
This could mean a recall to the starting lineup for Antoni Milambo after the Netherlands Under-21 international missed his side's most recent outing.
Groningen's Leandro Bacuna carried over his fine start to the season at club level to the international scene as he found the back of the net for Curacao during the break, and the 33-year-old is one to keep an eye on.
Finn Stam will need to keep his discipline in check having already been booked three times this season—two shy of five, which would see him pick up a one-game ban.
Groningen possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Stam, Peersman, Rente, Bacuna; Valente, De Jonge, Hove, Schreuders; Van Bergen, Postema
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Smal, Hancko, Beelen, Lotomba; Zechiel, Timber, Milambo; Paixao, Gimenez, Stengs
We say: Groningen 1-2 Feyenoord
Groningen have impressed over the first few weeks of the season, but this weekend's test poses a stern challenge nonetheless.
We are backing Feyenoord to come away with all three points come the end of the 90 minutes in what should be an exciting watch.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
