ADO Den Haag will be looking to cause a surprise in the KNVB Beker when they face Eredivisie outfit Go Ahead Eagles in the last 16 on Thursday evening.
At a time when the home side sit in 13th position in the second tier, the visitors occupy 12th place in the top flight.
Match preview
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Having finished in 13th spot in the Eredivisie during 2021-22, the next objective for Go Ahead Eagles was to move closer to the top half of the table and put together a cup run.
As it stands, both targets are achievable, with Rene Hake's team bouncing back from a three-game losing streak to edge out NEC Nijmegen at the weekend.
Go Ahead Eagles now sit six points clear of the relegation places with none of the division's major clubs to come until April, freeing them up to place more attention on the KNVB Beker.
Wins have already been recorded over Helmond Sport and Heracles, putting Go Ahead Eagles in a position where they could potentially reach the quarter-finals without having encountered top-flight opposition.
Nevertheless, that is not to say that they should be taking their next tie lightly given that it comes against a team who are on their best run of form of the season.
ADO Den Haag are currently on a seven-match unbeaten streak, recording four wins and three draws, and it has allowed them to move away from the bottom spots in the table.
That is largely down to the work of legendary Dutchman Dick Advocaat, who has overseen such an improvement that ADO Den Haag are one of just two teams to avoid losing any of their most recent six league matches.
To reach this stage of the competition, Den Haag have overcome the challenges of Excelsior '31 and Kozakken Boys, both fixtures taking place on away territory.
While replicating his KNVB Beker triumph with PSV Eindhoven in 1995-96 appears highly unlikely, Advocaat will have aspirations to go deeper in this competition in the hope of setting up a reunion with one of three former clubs that remain in the tournament.
Team News
ADO Den Haag will be forced into two alterations with Ricardo Kishna sustaining an injury issue against NAC at the weekend before Thomas Verheydt was sent off in the closing stages.
Dhoraso Klas may get the nod in midfield, while Joel Zwarts appears most likely to replace Verheydt down the middle of the attack.
Advocaat could choose to retain the rest of the first XI as he bids to upset their higher-level opponents.
Hake will also give consideration to making a couple of changes to his Go Ahead Eagles side, potentially bringing in Federico Mattiello for a rare start.
Sylla Sow may get the nod in the final third if either Finn Stokkers or Isac Lidberg are handed a rest.
ADO Den Haag possible starting lineup:
Stevens; Hall, Asante, Van Breemen, Kemper; Klas, Thomas, Wehrmann; Severina, Zwarts, Sleegers
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Lange; Deijl, Nauber, Idzes, Fontan; Llansana, Rommens; Willumsson, Adekanye; Stokkers, Sow
We say: ADO Den Haag 1-2 Go Ahead Eagles
Given the respective form of the two teams, this has the potential to be a highly-competitive encounter, one which the home side will believe that they can win. However, we are backing the Eredivisie outfit to eventually come through with the victory, potentially through a late goal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
