It is 10th versus 11th in the 2023-24 Eredivisie season this Sunday as FC Utrecht entertain the challenge of Fortuna Sittard at the Stadion Galgenwaard.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last five matches, while the away side saw their four-game unbeaten streak across all competitions come to an end last time out.
Match preview
Utrecht snapped a run of four consecutive stalemates with a 4-2 triumph over FC Volendam when the teams went head-to-head on Saturday afternoon.
After going behind to Zach Booth's opener, Ron Jans's men turned the game on its head through strikes from Taylor Booth and Nick Viergever but were soon pegged back by Josh Flint, after which Booth tripled his tally in the second half to seal the deal.
As a result, De Domstedelingen have climbed up to 11th position in the Eredivisie table, just three points adrift of a place in the top half.
Awaiting them next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides over the last seven clashes which have yielded two wins apiece and three draws.
Unbeaten in their last 10 matches on home turf, Sunday's hosts will back themselves to secure another positive result in front of their fans.
Fortuna Sittard were knocked out of the last eight of the KNVB Beker courtesy of a penalty-shootout defeat to Groningen at Euroborg on Thursday evening.
Following a goalless draw, Oguzhan Ozyakup and Mouhamed Belkheir both fluffed their lines from 12 yards to send Danny Buijs's men packing.
Just before that, the Fortunezen played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Heerenveen and sit 10th in the standings after 20 rounds of matches so far.
Having seen their four-game unbeaten run on the road end in midweek, Sunday's visitors now set out to avoid back to back defeats on the road for the first time since mid-December.
Team News
Utrecht's Kevin Gadellaa misses out of this weekend's contest through a knee problem, while fellow Dutchman Marouan Azarkan continues to nurse a head injury.
Taylor Booth opened his account for the season with a superb hat-trick last time out, and the midfielder will be keen to pick up where he left off.
Deroy Duarte made his return from international duty against Groningen and should retain his place in Fortuna's starting lineup for this one.
Twenty-five-year-old Kaj Sierhuis is still expected to lead the line for the visitors despite failing to score in each of his last four matches.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Ter Avest, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Fraulo, Flamingo, Toornstra; Booth, Lammers, Boussaid
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Verrips; Dijks, Siovas, Guth, Pinto; Lonwijk, Ferati, Halilovic, Oratmangoen; Cordoba, Sierhuis
We say: FC Utrecht 1-0 Fortuna Sittard
Both Utrecht and Fortuna have been far from impressive at the top end of the pitch this term, so a drab affair is on the cards here. That said, we can see the home side just about managing to get the job done in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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