Preview: Feyenoord vs. Groningen - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the visitors make the trip to Rotterdam in search of back to back wins for the first time this year having recently returned to winning ways.

Match preview

Feyenoord secured safe passage into the last four of the KNVB Beker thanks to a 1-0 victory over Heerenveen at the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Wednesday.

Arne Slot's men squandered several chances to break the deadlock, but Santiago Gimenez would eventually spare his side's blushes with an 80th-minute strike.

Just before that, De Stadionclub cruised past Fortuna Sittard in a 4-2 win on Sunday to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie table.

Up next is the task of taking on an opposing outfit who are without a win in the most recent six meetings between the teams and have only picked up one victory in the last 21 clashes.

With the first leg of their Europa League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk to follow, Saturday's hosts will be keen to make a winning start to what is set to be a crucial run of matches.

Groningen snapped a 10-game winless run in grand style by emphatically seeing off the threat of Excelsior in a 3-0 triumph on Saturday at Euroborg.

Dennis van der Ree's men took the lead in the 13th minute through Johan Hove before second-half strikes from Ricardo Pepi and Liam van Gelderen sealed the deal.

As a result, Trots van het Noorden have now moved within three points of safety, albeit remaining bottom but one in the league standings after 23 matches.

Off the back of four straight losses on the road by a combined score of 13-3, Saturday's visitors will need to improve at both ends of the pitch to stand any chance of coming out on top here.

Feyenoord Eredivisie form:

W

D

D

W

W

W

Feyenoord form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

W

Groningen Eredivisie form:

L

L

D

L

D

W

Team News

Sebastian Szymanski and Quinten Timber are currently nursing knee injuries and will definitely not play any part for Feyenoord this weekend.

Goalkeeper Justin Bijlow is also sidelined with a wrist injury, while Patrik Walemark is set to miss a sixth consecutive game due to a muscle problem.

Following his winner last time out, Santiago Gimenez has now got himself on the scoresheet in five of his last seven outings, making him one to keep an eye on.

Groningen's Mads Bech Sorensen remains out of action with a broken hand, and the Dane is still a considerable way off making his comeback from injury.

Youngsters Paulo Abraham and Oliver Antman also miss out for the away side as they continue to nurse knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:

Wellenreuther; Hartman, Hancko, Geertruida, Pedersen; Kokcu, Wieffer; Idrissi, Dilrosun, Jahanbakhsh; Gimenez

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Verrips; Van Gelderen, Blokzijl, Balker, Isak; Suslov, Hove, Oratmangoen; Irandust, Pepi, Manu

We say: Feyenoord 3-1 Groningen

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