Aiming to end a run of five matches without a victory, PEC Zwolle entertain the challenge of Fortuna Sittard at the MAC³PARK Stadion on Saturday in matchday 12 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season.
The away side, on the other hand, make the journey this weekend seeking to continue their recent resurgence having won four of their last five matches across all competitions.
Match preview
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PEC Zwolle were guilty of throwing away a lead for the second game running as they had to settle for a share of the spoils from Sunday's thrilling 2-2 stalemate against Go Ahead Eagles at De Adelaarshorst.
A blistering start saw Johnny Jansen's men head into the locker room with a healthy advantage thanks to strikes from Davy Van Den Berg and Jamiro Monteiro before Oliver Edvardsen and Enric Llansana struck in the second half to force a share of the spoils.
While De Blauwvingers would have been frustrated not to have come away with maximum points, they did manage to snap a three-game losing streak since the October international break after which defeats against NAC Breda, PSV Eindhoven and NEC followed.
Albeit only on goal difference, Zwolle currently find themselves in the bottom three of the Eredivisie table ahead of Saturday's fixture, where the sides claimed respective home wins across both of last season's league meetings.
However, the hosts will need to get going at the top end of the pitch to stand a good chance of emerging triumphant, having scored the joint second-fewest goals in the entire division (11), only behind Almere City (five).
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Fortuna Sittard turned in a performance of the highest quality to breeze past the threat of Heerenveen thanks to a convincing 3-0 triumph at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion when the teams locked horns on Saturday evening.
Goals from Loreintz Rosier in both halves either side of Kristoffer Peterson's strike wrapped up yet another win for Danny Buijs's men—their third on the bounce since a goalless draw against Willem II on October 20.
The Fortunezen's recent upturn in form has propelled them to seventh in the league standings, four points shy of FC Twente in fifth, and well on course to mount a challenge to secure continental football.
Fortuna's clean sheet against Heerenveen was their fourth in the last five outings, meaning they have now recorded more shutouts (six) than any other team in the Dutch top flight this season, closely followed by Ajax.
Having established themselves as a force to reckon with at the back, Saturday's visitors must now brush up on their attacking output after only just getting into double figures for goals (12) in their 11th game last time out.
Team News
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Simon Graves and Tristan Gooijer are both unavailable for selection due to knee injuries, although the former is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action.
Long-term absentee Samir Lagsir is still unfit to play any part for the home team here through an injury that has kept him on the sidelines for the last 18 months.
Following his strike against Go Ahead Eagles, 30-year-old Jamiro Monteiro has now found the back of the net in consecutive games for his side, making him one to keep a close watch on.
Fortuna Sittard's Kaj Sierhuis has not featured since the back end of last season when he suffered a knee problem, and the striker will miss Saturday's game as well.
Alen Halilovic made his comeback from a brief injury spell last time out, but it remains to be seen whether the Croatian will be fit enough to get the nod right from the off in this one.
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Van der Haar, MacNulty, Aertssen, Floranus; El Azzouzi, Van Den Berg; Mbayo, Monteiro, Krastev; Vente
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; Dijks, Guth, Adewoye, Pinto; Fosso, Rosier; Bastien, Bullaude, Dahlhaus; Da Cruz
We say: PEC Zwolle 1-2 Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard are the more in-form side heading into this one, but Zwolle will be expected to pose a stern test in front of their fans nonetheless.
We can see the away side coming out on top, albeit by only a narrow margin.
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