Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Eredivisie clash between Feyenoord and PEC Zwolle, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Feyenoord play host to PEC Zwolle on Sunday evening knowing that they are realistically already guaranteed to finish in second place in the Eredivisie standings.
Meanwhile, having already ensured that they will not be relegated this season, PEC Zwolle travel to De Kuip able to play without any pressure.
Match preview
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Although Feyenoord are technically still involved in the Eredivisie title race, everyone associated with the club are effectively going through the motions until the end of the season.
A PSV Eindhoven side that has dropped just nine points all season will win the trophy unless they lose their remaining three games, as well as Feyenoord winning theirs and there being a 23-goal swing.
The runners-up spot is already secured, the KNVB-Beker has been won, and head coach Arne Slot is on the brink of being confirmed as Liverpool manager.
Feyenoord still have two home fixtures to go in 2023-24, the motivation being to extend their winning streak at De Kuip to seven matches with victories over Zwolle and Excelsior.
Slot will also want to move to Anfield with a prolonged unbeaten run in normal time. Feyenoord have not suffered defeat, aside from a penalty shootout, for 23 matches.
From the perspective of Zwolle, they can play the remaining three games of the season in celebratory mode having successfully retained their top-flight status for another 12 months.
Collecting just two points across an eight-game period had put that in doubt, but Johnny Jansen‘s team have since collected seven points from just three fixtures.
Either side of a 2-2 draw at NEC Nijmegen, the Blauwvingers have recorded home victories over Excelsior and Heracles to move into 11th position.
The visitors do possess a respectable away record, yet they have failed to win any of their last five such fixtures, a run lasting since February 11.
Feyenoord Eredivisie form:
Feyenoord form (all competitions):
PEC Zwolle Eredivisie form:
Team News
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Calvin Stengs could be restored to the Feyenoord starting lineup after making an impact as a substitute at Go Ahead Eagles.
Antoni Milambo would likely miss out if Slot opts for that change, but the remainder of the side could plausibly stay the same.
Igor Paixao and Santiago Gimenez are among the players who will miss out through injury.
With Thomas Lam and Younes Namli both serving suspensions, Jansen will make at least two changes to his PEC Zwolle XI.
Damian van der Haar and Eliano Reijnders could be drafted into the side at centre-back and on the right flank respectively.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Geertruida, Trauner, Beelen, Hancko; Stengs, Zerrouki, Timber; Minteh, Ueda, Ivanusec
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Polen, Kersten, Van der Haar, MacNulty; Azzouzi, Krastev; Reijnders, Velanas, Water; Thy
We say: Feyenoord 3-0 PEC Zwolle
With PEC Zwolle mathematically safe, it remains to be seen whether that will benefit or hinder them. Nevertheless, we expect this game to be relatively one-sided, Feyenoord wanting to continue to put on a show before Slot’s likely move to Liverpool.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.