Feyenoord make the trip to FC Utrecht on Sunday looking to extend their unbeaten start in the Eredivisie to four matches.
At a time when the defending champions sit in sixth position in the standings, Utrecht are one of four teams who are yet to collect a single point.
Match preview
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Despite losing to PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup, Arne Slot would have had high hopes for his Feyenoord side collecting maximum points from their opening three league fixtures.
However, draws with Fortuna Sittard and Sparta Rotterdam immediately put them on the back foot at the start of their title defence, heaping pressure on their meeting with Almere City last time out.
However, the game was over as a contest within 19 minutes, with Feyenoord moving three goals to the good before eventually seeing out a 6-1 victory.
That result has catapulted them into sixth position, but they already sit adrift of several teams above them who have played a match fewer due to European action.
The Club on the Meuse remain in need of compiling a winning streak to end the first batch of encounters on a high, and they will back themselves to do just that at Stadion Galgenwaard.
Utrecht enjoyed an admirable season in 2022-23, finishing in seventh place, but the disappointment of missing out in the European playoffs has lingered.
Three successive defeats without conceding a goal have been posted against PSV, Heerenveen and PEC Zwolle, the latter contest particularly frustrating given that it came versus a newly-promoted team.
Such a poor start led to the sacking of Michael Silberbauer at the beginning of the week, with Rob Penders taking charge in the short term before an outside appointment.
Nevertheless, that is assuming that Penders should not guide Utrecht to a surprise win on Sunday in a fixture where Utrecht can play with a sense of freedom.
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Team News
Utrecht are expected to remain without Taylor Booth, Zidane Iqbal and Anthony Descotte when they square off against Feyenoord.
Penders must decide whether to tinker with the starting lineup, with Ryan Flamingo potentially being given a first start of 2023-24 ahead of Jens Toornstra.
With Utrecht devoid of goals, winger Ole Romeny may be provided with an opportunity on one of the flanks.
Barring any injury issues, Slot could see no reason to make any alterations to his Feyenoord XI on the back of such a dominant display versus Almere City.
That would see summer arrival Ayase Ueda have to bide his time on the substitutes' bench, while defenderBart Nieuwkoop serves the final game of the suspension that he picked up for his early red card against Sittard in the opening game.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Klaiber, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, Karouani; Bozdogan, Flamingo, Seuntjens; Azarkan, Lidberg, Romeny
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Geertruida, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Timber; Minteh, Stengs, Paixao; Gimenez
We say: FC Utrecht 0-2 Feyenoord
While Feyenoord have been far from convincing thus far, this feels like the ideal game to make some headway up the league. Although Utrecht have been solid enough, all things considered, in defence this season, we feel that they will concede a goal in each half to lose out yet again.
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Top tip
Darren Plant
