FC Utrecht vs. Willem II - prediction, team news, lineups

Separated by 3 places successful the Eredivisie table, FC Utrecht invited bottom-placed Willem II to Stadion Galgenwaard for Sunday's eighth round.

The hosts person not enjoyed the smoothest modulation nether Anthony Correia — who succeeded the retired Ron Jans successful the summertime — with a 5-0 hammering astatine Feyenoord earlier the planetary interruption representing different dense decision for the erstwhile Telstar brag successful the opening rounds.

Match preview

A week aft ending their hold for maximum points nether Correia, Utrecht travelled to De Kuip to look 1 of the early-season high-flyers, albeit 1 yet to grounds a location triumph astatine the time.

However, the Rotterdam outfit blew De Domstedelingen distant successful a 5-0 rout, inflicting different dense decision connected the caller brag pursuing 4-1 and 6-1 losses to AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven successful the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season.

Not helped by a challenging acceptable of fixtures astatine the commencement of the season, the Cupfighters' aboriginal results mean that they person conceded the astir goals successful the Dutch apical formation (24), though scoring 11 — much than each bottom-half broadside but NEC Nijmegen (12) — has prevented their extremity quality from becoming adjacent worse.

Nonetheless, 3 weeks is simply a agelong clip successful football, and astir supporters astatine Stadion Galgenwaard volition anticipation to spot a effect this play astatine the disbursal of winless Willem II.

They should stay optimistic contempt sitting conscionable extracurricular the bottommost three, 1 spot supra the relegation playoff spot, arsenic the Cathedral Citizens clasp the humanities vantage successful this fixture.

Seven of the past 10 meetings person ended successful decision for Willem II, whose 2 victories during that play came successful January 2019 and May 2022.

That precedent offers small encouragement to the top-flight returnees, whose signifier earlier the intermission near them bottommost with 2 points, 2 adrift of the relegation playoff spot and 3 from safety.

While they person conceded 4 less goals than the broadside they visit, the Superkruiken's tally of six — with lone Telstar scoring less — undermines their chances of securing capable draws, particularly if they stay susceptible astatine the back.

As such, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however John Stegeman finds solutions to amended Willem II's attacking patterns and assistance them make much opportunities successful unsafe areas.

Fortunately, plentifulness of the play remains, and they volition anticipation to observe the signifier required to debar contiguous relegation from the apical flight.

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

Willem II Eredivisie form:

Team News

Artem Stepanov is the joint-leading Eredivisie goalscorer alongside Gjivai Zechiel, Soren Tengstedt and Anis Hadj Moussa with 5 goals, but an ankle wounded could support him retired this weekend.

Apart from the doubtful joint-top scorer, injury-hit Utrecht are apt to beryllium without Noah Ohio (knee), Alonzo Engwanda (hamstring), Kevin Paredes (knee), Miliano Jonathans (ACL) and Victor Jensen (knee) for gameweek eight.

If Stepanov misses out, Adrian Blake and Dani De Wit, some of whom person scored twice, indispensable measurement up and supply the decisive contributions for the Cathedral Citizens.

The bottom-placed visitors volition trust connected Devin Haen to adhd to his 3 Eredivisie goals and springiness them a accidental of leaving Stadion Galgenwaard with a affirmative result.

Like their hosts, Willem II are besides dealing with respective wounded concerns: Thomas Didillon-Hodl (hamstring), Justin Hoogma (knee), Amine Lachkar (groin) and Armin Culum (foot) are absent, portion Kasper Boogaard's ankle occupation volition beryllium assessed earlier the encounter.

FC Utrecht imaginable starting lineup:

Barkas; Horemans, Didden, Panagiotou; Vesterlund, Van Overeem, Broholm, Zagre; Alarcon, De Wit, Blake

Willem II imaginable starting lineup:

Delanghe; Ter Avest, Stam, Dekker, Tjoe-A-On; Twigt, Vilhena; Gurbuz, Van Aalst, Slory; Haen

We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 Willem II

Utrecht's antiaircraft grounds makes it hard to backmost them for a cleanable sheet, but their attacking output provides encouragement against the division's bottommost side.

Even if Stepanov misses out, the hosts should person capable prime done Blake and De Wit to respond positively to their humiliation astatine Feyenoord.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.