Preview:Telstar vs. FC Volendam - prediction, team news, lineups

Winless since their respective Eredivisie returns, Telstar and FC Volendam aim for their first top-flight victories in Saturday’s gameweek three match at BUKO Stadion.

The hosts have yet to score since ending their 47-year absence, suffering defeats by Ajax and PEC Zwolle, while the second-tier champions have drawn both matches against Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar.

Match preview

Anthony Correia’s team may have given Ajax a scare in gameweek one before ultimately losing 2-0, but the White Lions then failed to capitalise on their promising performance in another defeat last weekend.

De Witte Leeuwen hosted Zwolle in their first top-tier fixture on home soil in 47 years, aiming to secure maximum points; however, a Koen Kostons brace for the Zwolle outfit handed Telstar their second consecutive 2-0 defeat to start the season.

Last year's playoff winners now prepare for another match in front of their supporters, hoping for a different outcome against another promoted side to finally bring some Eredivisie cheer.

Nonetheless, previous results in this matchup have not been favourable for the White Lions, who have lost four of the last five matches and are winless in this contest in 10 encounters since a 5-2 victory in February 2018.

However, the fact that last season’s corresponding encounter in the Eerste Divisie ended 2-2 should motivate Telstar, who aim to break their seven-year drought without maximum points in this fixture that has brought them little joy.

Seeking to avoid that situation, Volendam head into Saturday’s match, looking to extend their 10-match unbeaten run over Telstar as they strive for their first win since returning to the top flight.

Rick Kruys’s team started the season with a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen in gameweek one before drawing 2-2 at home against AZ.

Despite these seemingly disappointing points, the Other Oranje have had to earn those two points from losing positions, with Ozan Kokcu equalising in Heerenveen and Xavier Mbuyamba scoring against last week's opponents from Alkmaar.

While securing points from losing positions is commendable, Kruys will hope his players can finally take the lead in a game and maintain their advantage for a sustained period.

For that to happen, travelling fans will desire a different performance from last season’s visit to BUKO Stadion, where they trailed 2-1 before equalising through Alex Plat just after the hour.

Apart from that draw, the omens are favourable for Volendam, and Kruys's team hope that the historical precedent gives them a psychological edge in Saturday's contest.

Telstar Eredivisie form:

FC Volendam Eredivisie form:

Team News

While Mo Hamdaoui is still carrying an injury from last season, Telstar have come through the first two rounds of this season unscathed, giving Correia a nearly fully fit squad for this weekend's match.

After failing to score in De Witte Leeuwen’s first two defeats, Milan Zonneveld and Patrick Brouwer, who have missed four clear chances between them, hope to find the net on Saturday.

Volendam are also relatively injury-free, although the issue that forced Mbuyamba off in the final minute against AZ will be evaluated before gameweek three.

Although Henk Veerman scored 26 times in Palingboeren’s promotion season, the veteran has yet to get off the mark in the Eredivisie in 2025-26.

The same goes for Robert Muhren (18 goals) and Plat (six), whose contributions were vital in helping the team earn promotion; however, they are still trying to rediscover their scoring touch in the top tier.

Telstar possible starting lineup:

Koeman; Koswal, Offerhaus, Bakker; Noslin, Owusu, Rossen, Hardevald; Hetli, Brouwer; Zonneveld

FC Volendam possible starting lineup:

Van Oevelen; Payne, Verschuren, Amevor, Leliendal; Plat, Bukala; Oehlers, Muhren, Kokcu; Veerman

We say: Telstar 1-2 FC Volendam

Despite last season’s draw in the second tier, it is hard to look beyond a Volendam victory on Saturday, considering the match-winning quality in Kruys’s team.

As a result, the hitherto unbeaten away side are backed to secure a narrow win and extend their unbeaten record in this fixture to 11.

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