Preview:Groningen vs. Go Ahead Eagles - prediction, team news, lineups

Off the back of humiliating defeats last time out, Groningen and Go Ahead Eagles face off at the Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion on Sunday.

The teams are still in search of their first victory of the new campaign and this weekend's clash promises to be an exciting watch.

Match preview

Groningen were left red-faced following a comprehensive 6-1 thrashing against defending champions Ajax at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Sunday.

Frank Wormuth's men trailed to Steven Bergwijn's opener before levelling matters through Cyril Ngonge but they went on to concede a further two goals to the aforementioned Bergwijn as well as strikes from Antony, Kenneth Taylor and Steven Berghuis.

With just one point from their opening two outings, the Pride of the North sit 15th in the Eredivisie table, just ahead of the bottom three.

Coming up next the is the challenge of an opposing outfit who are yet to come out on top in any of the last 10 meetings between the teams across all competitions.

Having won three and drawn one of their most recent four home involvements, Sunday's hosts now go in search of another positive result on home turf to help kickstart their league journey.

Go Ahead Eagles fell to a whopping 5-2 defeat versus PSV Eindhoven when the teams went head to head at De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon.

Xavi Simons was the star of the show as he bagged a double and was joined on the score sheet by Luuk de Jong, Armando Obispo and Joey Veerman, while Isac Lidberg and Oliver Edvardsen were on target for Rene Hake's men.

Still yet to record a point from their opening two outings, the pride of the IJssel Kowet currently sit bottom of the league table and are in need of a pick-me-up.

Following four consecutive away Eredivisie defeats by a combined score of 7-1, Sunday's visitors will be wary of coming away empty-handed from yet another game on the road.

Team News

Go Ahead Eagles' Martijn Berden remains sidelined with an ulnar fracture and the 25-year-old is not expected to feature in this weekend's contest.

The away side are also set to be without Mats Deijl who received his marching orders in the first half of the defeat to PSV last time out.

Gerrit Nauber was fit enough to be named on the bench in the aforementioned game but it remains to be seen if the 30-year-old will play a part here.

Jan Hoekstra has not been involved for Groningen since January due to a shoulder problem and the goalkeeper is a guaranteed absentee for Sunday.

Cyril Ngonge has found the back of the net in each of his last three appearances for the hosts, making the Belgian one to keep an eye on.

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Verrips; Dybvik, Balker, Te Wierik, Kasanwirjo; Suslov, Duarte, Pelupessy, Lundqvist, Ngonge; Larsen

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

De Lange; Nauber, Idzes, Fontan, Kuipers; Linthorst, Llansama, Rommens, Edvardsen; Lidberg, Stokkers

We say: Groningen 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles

Both teams will be looking to serve up a quick response to last week's disaster so we are expecting a closely-contested affair. However, we are backing Groningen to just about see off the threat of their visitors and carry the day.

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