Preview:Willem II vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Willem II welcome FC Utrecht to the Konig Willem II Stadion on Sunday in the final matchday of the 2021-22 Eredivisie season.

Both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils in their respective last outings and will now be looking to get back to winning ways.

Match preview

Utrecht played out a thrilling 2-2 stalemate against AZ Alkmaar in Wednesday's meeting at the Stadion Galgenwaard.

Rick Kruys's men found themselves two goals down thanks to a Vangelis Pavlidis brace inside the opening 15 minutes before strikes from Sander van de Streek and Anastasios Douvikas restored parity.

The Domstedelingen remain seventh in the league standings and will be participating in the Conference League playoff qualifiers for the second consecutive season.

Their next task comes against an opposing outfit who have failed to come out on top in any of the last five clashes between the teams.

Having claimed an empathic 5-1 victory in October's reverse fixture, Sunday's visitors will back themselves to complete a league double over their hosts this weekend.

Willem II's struggles away from home continued following a 1-1 draw against Cambuur at the Cambuur Stadion on Wednesday.

Kevin Hofland's men were behind on the stroke of half time thanks to Sekou Sylla's opener before Derrick Kohn levelled matters 10 minutes into the second period.

The Tricolores now sit two points adrift of safety and would still need results elsewhere to go their way even if they manage all three points this weekend.

Unbeaten in four home games leading up to Sunday's contest, Willem II set out to make a last-ditch attempt to preserve their top-flight status.

Team News

Thijs Oosting and Emil Bergstrom are guaranteed absentees for Willem II, as the duo continue to nurse knee injuries.

Nineteen-year-old Ringo Meerveld will also be unavailable for Sunday's match, while Argyris Kampetsis remains a huge doubt.

Utrecht will be without the services of Reda Akmum and Naoki Maeda, who are yet to recuperate from long-term knee problems.

First-choice goalkeeper Fabian De Keijzer missed his side's last outing with a thigh injury which could keep him out of this weekend's contest as well.

Consequently, Eric Oelschlagel is set to retain his place between the sticks for what would be only a fourth senior appearance of the campaign.

Willem II possible starting lineup:

Wellenreuther; Kohn, Heerkens, Dammers, Owusu; Llonch, Saddiki; Svensson, Crowley, Kohlert; Hornkamp

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:

Oelschlagel; Ter Avest, Van der Hoorn, Janssen, Van der Kust; Van Overeem, Maher, Timber; Van de Streek, Gustafson, Douvikas

We say: Willem II 1-0 FC Utrecht

While their destiny is currently not in their own hands, Willem will be looking to give themselves a last shot at survival with all three points in this one. We are fancying them to emerge victorious, albeit by only the narrowest of margins.