Preview: SBV Excelsior vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the away side make the trip to Rotterdam aiming to end a run of five matches without a victory across all competitions.

Match preview

Excelsior returned to winning ways in grand style as they cruised to an emphatic 3-0 victory against Heerenveen in Friday's meeting between the teams.

Marinus Dijkhuizen's men opened the scoring through Couhaib Driouech and doubled their advantage before the interval through Troy Parrott before Lazaros Lamprou put the final nail in the coffin just past the hour mark.

Consequently, The Kralingers have moved up to ninth place in the Eredivisie table, five points adrift of Sparta Rotterdam in the race for continental qualification.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who are unbeaten in the last 10 editions of this fixture across all competitions dating back to 2016.

Off the back of a first win in six home matches last time out, Saturday's hosts now go in search of consecutive victories in front of their fans for the first time since October.

FC Utrecht battled hard to come away with a share of the spoils from their encounter against PSV Eindhoven at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday.

Ron Jans's men fell behind to Johan Bakayoko's early strike before restoring parity through Othman Boussaid eight minutes into the second period.

With 19 points amassed from their 18 matches to date, The Domstedelingen sit 14th in the standings, five points clear of relegation danger.

Unbeaten in four of their last five matches on the road, Saturday's visitors have proven themselves to be a nut to crack away from home of late.

SBV Excelsior Eredivisie form:

L

D

L

D

L

W

SBV Excelsior form (all competitions):

L

D

W

L

L

W

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

W

D

W

D

D

D

FC Utrecht form (all competitions):

D

W

D

L

D

D

Team News

Utrecht's Zidane Iqbal is unavailable for this one as he remains on international duty with Iraq at the ongoing Asian Cup, while Anthony Descotte continues to nurse a knee injury.

The away side will also be without the services of forward Marouan Aazarkan, who has missed each of the last three matches with a head injury.

Dutch duo Raphael Eyongo and Lennard Hartjes will not play any part for Excelsior here as they are both sidelined with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Twenty-two-year-old Serano Seymor also misses out for the home side through a foot problem and is joined on the sidelines by Jacky Donkor.

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Van Gassel; Zagre, El Yaakoubi, Widell, Horemans; Goudmijn, Baas; Driouech, Naujoks, Lamprou; Parrott

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:

Barkas; Ter Avest, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Toornstra, Flamingo, Fraulo; Booth, Lammers, Boussaid

We say: SBV Excelsior 1-1 FC Utrecht

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