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

Fresh off the back of losing for the first time in five league games, Groningen welcome Emmen to the Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on Saturday.

The visitors are on the rise having picked up seven points from the last nine available as they make a late push to beat the drop.

Match preview

After going unbeaten in their last four games, Groningen were defeated 3-1 by Ajax in an entertaining contest at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Sunday.

The league leaders took the lead five minutes into the game courtesy of Ryan Gravenberch's third league goal of the campaign.

Sebastien Haller was on target once again as he doubled his side's lead with a clinical finish barely 10 minutes into the second half.

Dusan Tadic put the game to bed with a late penalty, but there was still time for Groningen to pull one back through Ahmed El Messaoudi.

While Trots van het Noorden remain in sixth place, they have lost some ground on fifth-placed Feyenoord, who were victorious last time out.

Next up is a clash against Saturday's opponents, against whom they have had mixed results with the last nine encounters yielding four wins apiece, and a draw.

Emmen were unable to make it three league wins on the bounce, but they kept their unbeaten run going with a 1-1 draw against Sparta Rotterdam.

Dick Lukkien's men were close to coming away from the game with nothing before Michael de Leeuw converted a stoppage-time penalty to level the game.

The Kannibals still have it all to do in their quest for survival as they are currently nine points from safety with only nine games left to play.

Saturday's visitors have shown that they will not be going down without a fight, so the game promises to be a proper contest.

Team News

Arjen Robben's groin injury has made him miss major parts of his boyhood club's campaign, and it is still uncertain if he will feature again this season.

Ahmed El Messaoudi marked his return to action with a goal, and he is expected to get the nod right from the off in this one.

Groningen's Azor Matusiwa is ruled out of the game with a damaged knee which he sustained in his side's loss to Vitesse, but he is not far off a return to action.

Lentini Caciano and Luciano Carty are still a long way short of making their comebacks from injury, as they continue to battle with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Marko Kolar was involved for the first time in eight games against Sparta following his return from a muscle injury, and he could be set for a start this time.

Groningen possible starting lineup:
Padt; Van Hintum, Itakura, Te Wierik, Dankerlui; Schreck, Van Kaam; Suslov, El Hankouri, Da Cruz; Strand Larsen

Emmen possible starting lineup:
Telgenkamp; Cavlan, Bakker, Araujo, Bijl; Ben Moussa, Tibbling; Frei, Pena, De Vos; De Leeuw

We say: Groningen 2-0 Emmen

Emmen have been in good form of late, but the same could be said of Groningen. The game has all the makings of an enthralling contest as both sides still have a lot to play for, and we fancy the home team to carry the day in this one.