Preview: FC Volendam vs. RKC Waalwijk - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the visitors have won just once in their last nine games, and come into this clash in search of a much-needed victory.

Match preview

FC Volendam resumed their Eredivisie campaign in style last weekend with a resounding 3-0 victory over Cambuur.

Bilal Ould-Chikh and Robert Muhren both struck for Het Nieuwe Oranje inside the opening 10 minutes, before Henk Veerman's effort sealed a vital three points for Wim Jonk's side to lift them off the bottom of the Eredivisie table.

Volendam could not build on this victory in midweek, as they lost in the second round of the KNVB Cup on Wednesday evening to Heerenveen, courtesy of strikes from Pelle van Amersfoort and Sydney van Hooijdonk.

In what has been a poor start to the campaign, Volendam have amassed nine points from 15 matches in the league, and they now sit in 17th place, three points adrift of safety. However, Jonk's side now have one less competition to worry about and, as a result, can put their entire focus on surviving in the top flight of Dutch football.

A big performance is needed here as Het Nieuwe Oranje possess the joint-worst home record in the division, having won just one of the seven games they have played at the Kras Stadion so far this term.

Meanwhile, neither side could break the deadlock in RKC Waalwijk's stalemate with Heerenveen last weekend.

RKC will have been the happier of the two sides with the result, as they could only muster two shots on target against Kees van Wonderen's men and enjoyed just 39% possession.

However, it marked a much-improved display from the visitors, as before the break for the World Cup they were on the receiving end of a 6-1 thumping from NEC Nijmegen and they also have suffered recent defeats against Sint-Truiden and Roma before the resumption of their Eredivisie campaign.

RKC are currently in 11th place in the league, picking up 18 points from 15 games and a victory here could see them climb to ninth if other results go their way.

FC Volendam Eredivisie form:

D

L

L

L

L

W

FC Volendam form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

L

W

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form:

D

L

L

W

L

D

RKC Waalwijk form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

L

D

Team News

Robert Muhren scored a first-half hat-trick against NAC Breda in a club friendly before his strike against Cambuur last week, so he will likely lead the line here, especially after not featuring in midweek against Heerenveen.

Francesco Antonucci is looks set to miss out here through a muscle injury he picked up on the second weekend of the season back in August.

As for the visitors, Iliass Bel Hassani will return from suspension this weekend, seeking to add to his tally of five goals in the Eredivisie.

Julian Lelieveld, Shawn Adewoye and Thierry Lutonda have all featured in every league game so far this season, so we expect them to retain their places in the defence for this clash.

FC Volendam possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Mirani, Benamar, Mbuyamba; Buur, Eiting, Da Silva, Murkin; Ould-Chikh, Muhren, Oristanio

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Lelieveld, Nieuwpoort, Van den Buijs, Adewoye, Lutonda; Clement, Anita, Oukili; Bel Hassani, Jozefzoon

We say: FC Volendam 1-1 RKC Waalwijk

Both sides are struggling for form at the moment, so we think this one will end as a draw.

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