Eredivisie newcomers FC Volendam play host to NEC at the Kras Stadion on Sunday in the sophomore gameweek of the 2022-23 campaign.
Both teams still await their first wins of the new season and will be looking to get up and running with all three point in this weekend's contest.
Match preview
NEC fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against FC Twente in matchday one's keenly-contested affair at Stadion de Goffert on Sunday afternoon.
Rogier Meijer's men were on course to come away with a point in Nijmegen before Sem Steijn netted a 91st-minute winner to decide the match.
Similar to last season, The Eniesee have kicked off their league campaign with a loss and will now be looking to serve up a perfect response.
Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost nine of the most recent 10 meetings between the teams dating back to 2011.
Ahead of a daunting trip to AZ Alkmaar seven days later, Saturday's visitors set out to secure a morale-boosting victory on the road this weekend.
Volendam exhibited great powers of recovery to play out a 2-2 draw against Groningen at the Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on Sunday.
Wim Jonk's men were two down after just 34 minutes courtesy of strikes from Cyril Ngonge and Jorgen Strand Larsen before strikes from Daryl van Mieghem and Benaissa Benamar levelled matters.
Consequently, Het Andere Oranje currently sit seventh in the Eredivisie standings heading into this weekend's contest in front of their fans.
Having recently suffered a first home defeat since April in their last home involvement, Sunday's hosts will be aiming to give the fans their money's worth in this one.
- D
- W
- D
- L
- L
- D
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
Team News
Twenty-year-old Ibrahim El Kadiri was subbed off in the first half of Volendam's last outing, making him a doubt for Saturday's contest.
This could see Henk Veerman make his full debut for the hosts after the forward came on as a replacement for El Kadiri in the aforementioned game.
Achraf Douiri remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while the duo of Calvin Twigt and Oskar Buur continue to battle with knee problems.
Magnus Mattsson is yet to fully recuperate from a knee injury and the Dane is not expected to play any part for NEC Nijmegen in this one.
The away side are also set to be without the services of Jordy Bruijn and Mathias De Wolf, who are currently nursing ankle and muscle injuries respectively.
FC Volendam possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Murkin, Van Duijl, Mirani, Plat; Eiting, Benamar; Veerman, Antonucci, Van Mieghem; Muhren
NEC possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; Van Rooij, Marquez, Kramer, El Karouani; Schone, Proper; Tavsan, Tannane, Duelund; Rosendo
We say: FC Volendam 1-1 NEC
There is very little to separate the sides, and this weekend's clash could easily swing either way. We are tipping the teams to match each other stride for stride over the course of the 90 minutes, resulting in honours even at the sound of the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
