Preview: VVV-Venlo vs. RKC Waalwijk - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams that are currently in a downward spiral square up on Saturday at De Koel where VVV-Venlo will be playing host to RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie.

The visitors have lost six of their last seven games, while the home side are on a dismal run of 11 defeats on the bounce.

Match preview

© Reuters

Waalwijk were simply no match for AZ Alkmaar as the latter claimed a 3-1 win on Saturday when the sides went head-to-head.

Fred Grim's men broke the deadlock with in the opening exchanges through Thijs Oosting, but that lead was wiped out ten minutes later by Albert Gudmundsson.

AZ's young duo of Myron Boadu and Calvin Stengs both netted in a 20-minute spell after the restart to complete the turnaround.

RKC are currently four points above the drop zone and with only three games left to play, their safety is almost guaranteed.

However, they will want to make life as comfortable as they can for themselves by keeping that cushion before their season finale against Feyenoord.

VVV-Venlo continue to struggle on both ends of the pitch as they were beaten 4-0 by Heracles at the Erve Asito on Saturday.

Sinan Bakis put up a man-of-the-match performance, netting a superb hat-trick to effectively settle the contest in Almelo.

The Yellow Black Army remain in the drop zone, but they can count themselves lucky to only be three points from safety considering that they last picked up a league point in January.

This weekend's opponents are one of two teams that are hovering just above danger, and the hosts have a chance to further draw them into a relegation scrap.

Exacting revenge for a 3-2 loss back in December's reverse fixture at the Mandemakers Stadion is also on the agenda for VVV.

Team News

Simon Janssen has missed VVV's last two games with a minor injury and once again, he is expected to play no part in the clash.

Meritan Shabani is also likely to sit the game out as the 22-year-old midfielder remains on the sidelines with a groin problem.

Sylla Sow was given his marching orders in Waalwijk's last outing, and he will be serving the first of a three-game suspension this weekend.

Morad El Haddouti is unfit to play due to an ankle injury which he picked up back in November when he came on as a second-half substitute.

VVV-Venlo possible starting lineup:
Kirschbaum; Dekker, Da Graca, Gelmi, Pachonik; Linthorst, Post, Schafer, Machach; Van Crooy, Giakoumakis

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Lamprou; Quasten, Touba, Meulensteen, Bakari; Anita, Van der Venne, Tahiri; Oosting, John, Daneels

We say: VVV-Venlo 1-1 RKC Waalwijk

A clash between two struggling teams usually represents a perfect opportunity for either of them to get back on track. We expect a nervy and cagey contest in this one with the points split in the end.