PEC Zwolle vs Feyenoord – News and Probable Lineups

PEC Zwolle will be eager to end a streak of 13 straight losses to Feyenoord when the teams meet at the MAC3PARK Stadion for the Eredivisie season finale on Sunday afternoon.

Even with their challenges at the end of the season, the home team sits five points clear of the relegation zone and is assured of survival, while De Stadionclub looks poised to finish as league runners-up for the second time in three seasons.

Match overview

Following a shocking 11 goals conceded across their last two away games, PEC Zwolle’s struggles on the road continued last Sunday, suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fortuna Sittard at Fortuna Sittard Stadion.

Lance Duijvestijn, Yassin Oukili, and Kaj Sierhuis all scored to give Fortuna Sittard a commanding three-goal lead heading into the last 15 minutes, but the Fortunezen had to fend off a late scare when Gabriel Reiziger and Zico Buurmeester pulled two goals back for Zwolle.

Henry van der Vegt’s squad has now lost three consecutive away fixtures and has gone without a win in their last 16 league matches on the road, recording 10 losses and six draws since a 2-0 victory over Telstar at BUKO Stadion in August.

Nonetheless, Zwolle has found some comfort at home amidst their away difficulties, currently remaining unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 league games at the MAC3PARK Stadion, securing seven wins and four draws since late October.

The Blauwvingers are likely to end up in the bottom half of the standings for the third consecutive year since returning to the top tier in 2023, currently positioned 13th in the Eredivisie with 37 points from 33 matches, five points clear of 16th-placed Volendam in the relegation playoff zone.

Despite PSV Eindhoven running away with the league title, Feyenoord can still look back on another successful league season, having secured qualification for next year’s Champions League after not making it this year.

After finishing third last year, Robin van Persie’s squad has achieved 18 wins and eight draws from their 33 Eredivisie encounters, amassing 62 points to place them second in the standings, four points clear of third-placed Twente in the UCL playoff positions.

Feyenoord’s hopes for three successive wins were dashed last Sunday as they played to a 1-1 draw against AZ Alkmaar, with Anis Hadj Moussa equalizing Troy Parrott’s earlier goal with a skillfully executed counter-attack in the 57th minute.

While it was a disappointment to drop two points, the draw against AZ extended De Stadionclub’s unbeaten run to eight league matches, a stretch that has seen them notch three wins and five draws since a 2-0 loss to Twente on March 1.

Feyenoord will be confident about finishing the season strongly this weekend against an opponent who has suffered defeats in all of their last 13 confrontations in all competitions, a streak dating back to January 2019, when they achieved a 3-1 victory at the MAC3PARK Stadion.

Team News

PEC Zwolle will be without 22-year-old midfielder Samir Lagsir, who is on the long road to recovery after a serious muscle injury sustained in October.

Midfielder Shola Shoretire has been absent since suffering a knee injury against Groningen in March, while goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar may be on the bench for a second consecutive game after recovering from a thigh issue.

On the other hand, Feyenoord remains missing several key players, including the attacking duo of Shiloh Zand and Shaqueel van Persie due to knee injuries.

South Korean midfielder In-Beom Hwang is set to miss his seventh straight match due to an ankle injury, while fellow midfielder Thomas Berlin is still out with a broken leg.

The defensive pair of Malcom Jeng and 30-year-old Bart Nieuwkoop are both recovering from Achilles tendon and muscle injuries respectively, while Polish midfielder Jakub Moder is a significant doubt, having not played in the last three matches.

Eslováquian international Leo Sauer has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury during an international fixture against Kosovo in March, and Bosnian defender Anel Ahmedhodzic has missed the last five encounters due to injury.

PEC Zwolle probable starting XI:

DeGraaff; Aertssen, Graves, Velthuis, Floranus; Fichtinger, Neighbor; Velanas, Oosting, De Rooij; Kostons

Feyenoord probable starting XI:

Wellenreuther; Bos, Watanabe, Trauner, Deijl; Targhalline, Kraaijeveld; Van den Elshout, Valente, Moussa; Ueda

The form suggests Feyenoord has the upper hand, and with 13 consecutive wins against the home team, the head-to-head also favors Van Persie’s men, who appear to be clear favorites this weekend.

With 69 goals given away, Zwolle ranks among the weakest defensive teams in the league, and although they are unbeaten in their last five home games, we anticipate that the visitors will take advantage of their defensive fragility and continue their winning streak in this matchup.