Preview: Almere City vs. PEC Zwolle - prediction, team news, lineups

Two newly-promoted Eredivisie clubs meet at the Yanmar Stadion on Saturday, when PEC Zwolle travel to face Almere City.

The hosts prop up the table after three matches in their first season at this level so must use this encounter as a springboard to kick-start their season.

Match preview

Almere and Zwolle were just two of the 10 Eredivisie sides that were in action last weekend, as the league opted to give the four sides in European competition the weekend off to prepare.

There were wildly differing outcomes for these two though, with Almere experiencing yet another humbling, while Zwolle got off the board.

A ruthless Feyenoord performance saw them thrash Almere 6-1 at a rainy De Kuip.

The torrential conditions saw the game briefly suspended after the hosts took the lead inside the first five minutes, and Almere would go on to concede another two straight after play resumed.

Things did not get better as Feyenoord kept up that clinical edge to put six past the side now bottom of the Eredivisie, after 4-1 and 2-1 losses to Twente and Fortuna Sittard respectively.

Manager Alex Pastoor should see this as their best chance to get off the mark, with PSV Eindhoven to come in their next home game.

Almere finished one place behind Zwolle in the second tier last season, and the visitors have shown they are more capable to adjust at this level, given their recent experience.

Zwolle were also able to put a disappointing start behind them by claiming their first points of the season last weekend.

Ferdy Druijf's 69th-minute penalty saw Johnny Jansen's men overcome Utrecht by a solitary goal to nil.

It was a result that had been on the cards despite their difficult start, as a 2-1 loss to Sparta Rotterdam saw them have double the shots.

Their 3-1 defeat at Twente was also unfortunate, as they recorded a higher xG and only lost the encounter late on in Enschede.

The performances have been there, they just needed to get over the line, and Jansen will be delighted his side were able to do so last week with a clean sheet on top.

Team News

Almere's Yoann Cathline made his debut last weekend after joining on loan from Lorient, but after coming on with his side 5-0 down, he will hope for a better opportunity here.

Last season's top scorer Jeredy Hilterman left for Groningen last week, and nobody is yet to prove they are capable of replacing his goals.

Faiz Mattoir is out injured and Anthony Limbombe could join him on the sidelines after being forced off in the first half last weekend.

Pastoor has made very few changes to his side in the opening three games, but after three straight defeats, he may look to tweak something here.

Ryan Thomas is expected to miss out for Zwolle after picking up an injury last week which saw him miss the win over Utrecht.

Goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer is still not ready to make his debut following his return to Dutch football, while Samir Lagsir remains out having not featured since February.

Almere City possible starting lineup:

Bakker; Akujobi, Van Bruggen, Barbet, Floranus; Pena, Koopmeiners, Duijvestijn; Van La Parra, Robinet, Cathline

PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:

Schendelaar; Van Polen, Kersten, Lam, Czyborra; Namli, Buurmeester, Van Den Berg, Reijnders; Thy, Druijf

We say: Almere City 0-1 PEC Zwolle

Almere have struggled making the step-up so far, and games against a similar level of opposition is where their top-flight future will be decided.

Another win over struggling opposition could lift Zwolle as high as the top eight here, before there will be bigger challenges to come, so they will fancy their chances after last week's win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.