Preview: Willem II vs. ADO Den Haag - prediction, team news, lineups

With both teams currently languishing in the Eredivisie drop zone, Willem II and ADO Den Haag face off in a crucial relegation six-pointer on Sunday.

This is the first of two meetings between the sides, with the reverse fixture set to come up in the final month of the season, and it may prove to be a pivotal contest in the battle for survival in the Dutch top flight.

Match preview

The appointment of a new manager at Willem II has made an instant impact as they defeated Emmen 2-0 on Sunday, picking up what was only their third win of the season.

Zeljko Petrovic would have been delighted with his team's performance in the game as they showed great mettle and resolve throughout the 90 minutes.

The Dutch manager barely had a week to prepare for his first assignment having taken over from Gery Vink, who was serving as an interim head coach following the dismissal of Adrie Koster.

The win has taken De Superkruiken to within three points of RKC Waalwijk in 15th place, and a point above Saturday's visitors in the race to beat the drop.

Den Haag picked up a hard-fought point on Sunday, following a 1-1 draw against Sparta Rotterdam, which many people will not have seen coming.

De Ooievaars went into the interval with a shock lead courtesy of a Tomislav Gomelt strike on the cusp of half time, but they were pegged back midway through the second half by Reda Kharchouch.

Having already fallen behind to Willem II on the log, Ruud Brood's men will be wary of being left behind by Saturday's hosts, who things are looking up for at the moment.

They clearly have the historical advantage in this one, having won 12 of the last 17 games between the teams, and each of the last four away from home.

Willem II Eredivisie form: LLDLLW

ADO Den Haag Eredivisie form: WLLDLD
ADO Den Haag form (all competitions): LLLDLD

Team News

Bobby Adekanye was handed his full ADO Den Haag debut last time out when he was largely underwhelming, and he will be hopeful of a more productive outing this time.

Peet Bijen has not featured for Den Haag in over three months due to the damaged ankle he suffered in his side's KNVB-Beker meeting with Sparta Rotterdam in October.

The away team are also unable to call upon Daryl Janmaat for this one as he remains out with a knee injury, but he should be back later in the month.

Dries Saddiki is a major doubt for the hosts as he steps up his recovery from a muscle tear which he sustained three weeks ago.

Miquel Nelom's involvement has a lesser degree of uncertainty about it as he will definitely miss the game as well as the remainder of the season.

Willem II possible starting lineup:
Brondeel; Kohn, Peters, Heerkens, Owusu; Kohlert, Llonch, Spieringhs, Nunnely; Pavlidis, Okyere Wriedt

ADO Den Haag possible starting lineup:
Koopmans; Familio-Castillo, Kemper, Del Fabro, Van Ewijk; Goossens, Vejinovic, Pinas; Adekanye, Kramer, Besuijen

We say: Willem II 2-0 ADO Den Haag

Willem are looking like the more confident team at the moment, and this usually plays a major part in affairs of this nature, so we are backing them to come away with all three points.