Preview:RKC Waalwijk vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

FC Utrecht make the trip to RKC Waalwijk on Friday night looking for the victory that will keep the club in the hunt for the top three in the Eredivisie table.

At a time when the visitors sit in fourth position in the standings, their hosts are in 17th and desperately in need of maximum points to stay in contention to remain in the top flight.

Match preview

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Having won just twice over a 10-game period between December and February, FC Utrecht may have anticipated that their bid to earn Champions League football would fade away.

Instead, it has led to an unforeseen resurgence, Ron Jans spearheading a charge that has seen Utrecht record five wins from their last seven outings.

Despite being underdogs to overcome leaders Ajax on Sunday, Utrecht produced one of their best performances in living memory, thrashing the Dutch giants by a 4-0 scoreline at Stadion Galgenwaard.

As a result, the Cathedral citizens had opened up an 11-point gap over fifth place prior to games involving FC Twente and AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

Fourth spot would guarantee a place in the Europa League qualifying round, but ending the campaign with another four victories could lead to a spot in the Champions League equivalent.

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In sharp contrast, RKC Waalwijk head into this encounter on the back of seven matches without a win, losing five of those games.

To their credit, Henk Fraser's team have recently earned draws against AZ and Heracles, but conceding a 90th-minute winner to NEC Nijmegen last time out has ended any momentum that was building.

There is now a five-point gap to 16th-placed Willem II in the relegation playoff spot, yet RKC still have to play three of the top-eight clubs during their closing four matches.

On a positive note, three of RKC's four victories this campaign have come at the Mandemakers Stadion, albeit their last such success not coming since February 9.

Team News

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Despite defeat last time out, Fraser may be prepared to select the same RKC starting lineup given how close they went to achieving a share of the spoils.

Richard van der Venne is most likely to be recalled in central midfield if Fraser wishes to add a more attack-minded feel to his engine room.

Jans will also see no reason to make any alterations to his Utrecht XI unless any injuries occur in training.

Sebastien Haller should remain down the centre of the attack having contributed a goal or assist in his last three appearances.

Zidane Iqbal, Rafik El Arguioui, Niklas Vesterlund, Can Bozdogan and Rickson van Hees are all in line to miss out through injury.

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup: Houwen; Mazyani, Lelieveld, Gelderen, Familia-Castillo; Ihattaren, Loo, Oukili; Lokesa, Kramer, Margaret

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup: Barkas; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, Karouani; Engwanda, Aaronson; Rodriguez, Fraulo, Cathline; Haller

We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-3 FC Utrecht

With RKC having improved across recent games, they will back themselves to at least be competitive in this fixture. However, we can only predict an away victory, perhaps not reaching the heights of their previous performance but doing enough for another win.

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