Cambuur welcome NEC Nijmegen to Leeuwarden for an Eredivisie clash at the Cambuur Stadion on Friday night.
Though still early in the campaign, both sides look in danger of being involved in a relegation dogfight this season.
Match preview
It is quite a surprise to see Cambuur so low down the table in 16th, considering they finished ninth in their first season back in the Eredivisie since 2015-16 last season.
That was after they led the way in the second tier before COVID-19 saw the season cancelled in 2019-20, and then won it at a canter at the second time of asking a year later, scoring 109 goals.
Even 53 goals in their 34 Eredivisie games last season was a very good return, but they have just eight so far in 11 matches.
On top of that, the manager who guided them into the top flight, Henk de Jong, has had to step away from management for health reasons in the past week, with a successor still not named.
Assistants Sandor van der Heide and Pascal Bosschaart are expected to take charge of the side here for this one with the hope they can find a permanent successor either before or during the World Cup break.
An improvement on their home form here will be very welcome, as they have lost and failed to score in all but one of their five home games so far.
Astonishingly though, the one game they did not lose saw them hammer PSV Eindhoven 3-0, their only home win since February.
For Nijmegen, they have only won once all season, home or away, and it came almost three months ago against bottom side Volendam.
A quite remarkable run of results then saw them draw seven games in succession, but they have taken just one point from their last three matches and slipped to within one place of the relegation zone.
Like Cambuur, NEC also prefer playing on the road, as Rogier Meijer's side had the worst home record in the Eredivisie last season and have still not won at the Goffertstadion in six attempts this season.
They are difficult to beat though, as only PSV, Sparta Rotterdam and Twente have beaten them this season, and they are all in the top six.
Team News
Robin Maulun remains out for Cambuur with a recurring thigh problem following a brief comeback when he was named in the squad against Vitesse Arnhem three weeks ago.
They will also be without two of their left-backs, as Maxim Gullit and Sekou Sylla are both absent, so Alex Bangura should continue in that spot.
The Cambuur faithful will be hopeful for more off attacker Roberts Uldrikis, as his last goals came for Latvia back in June.
Joris Kramer returned to the Nijmegen squad for the first time in two months with a 30-minute substitute appearance against PSV last week.
He will contest for a spot in the side at centre-back with Philippe Sandler, who himself has recently returned to full fitness.
Jordy Bruijn is also now back in contention after the lengthy layoff.
Oussama Tannane is one to watch for NEC, as the Moroccan has scored two and assisted five of their 12 league goals this season.
Cambuur possible starting lineup:
Virginia; Schmidt, Tol, Bergsma, Wermeskerken; Van der Water, Van Kaam, Hoedemaekers, Paulissen, Mambimbi; Boere
NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Van Rooij, Marquez, Kramer, Verdonk; Proper, Schone, Mattson; Tavsan, Tannane, El Karouani
We say: Cambuur 1-1 NEC
Both teams have been mediocre at best and have struggled to pick wins up all season, and to say Nijmegen's matches have not been littered with goals would be an understatement, as nine of their 12 fixtures this season have seen two goals or fewer.
Cambuur have the worst home form in the division, but NEC are draw specialists, and have not won since August.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
