Jan Wouters’ side would be gunning to improve their home record by securing maximum points against Robert Maaskant’s men, who have been struggling to perform brightly this term.
In the 10th round of the Dutch top flight football, FC Utrecht will lock horns against FC Groningen at Galgenwaard Stadion on Friday, October 26.
FC Utrecht
The Utreg are heading into the game on the back of a morale boosting 1-2 victory over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/ADO-Den-Haag-c38221 in their last league encounter at Kyocera Stadion on October 21.
In spite of conceding a goal with the opening 20 minutes of action, when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jacob-Mulenga-c17488 secured a well deserved win in favour of Jan Wouters’
side.
The Utreg have thus far performed erratically at home, winning only one of their four games played. However, their form on the road has been very pleasing since the start of the 2012/13 campaign.
Occupying the sixth spot on the Eredivisie table, FC Utrecht have an overall record of 9 played, 4 won, 3 drawn and 2 lost.
Jan Wouters, the Utreg head coach, has urged his troops to put in a solid performance in their upcoming home encounter to secure all three points at the end.
FC Groningen
The Green-White Army have been struggling to achieve good results since the new season commenced. Heading into the game on the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Heerenveen, the Groningen-based club would be keen to secure a good result on
Friday.
Pride of the North have thus far staged inconsistent shows both at home and on the road. Occupying the 10th spot on the league table, they have an overall record of 9 played, 3 won, 2 drawn and 4 lost.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robert-c31222 Maaskant, the Green-White Army boss, voiced his disappointment over his side’s last week’s defeat, but has expressed confidence that his troops can achieve a favourable result at Galgenwaard Stadion on Friday.
“We gave away the game against Heerenveen. That should not have happened. Now, we have worked extremely hard, and will try our utmost to win against Utrecht”, Maaskant was quoted as saying to soccernews.nl.
Head-to-Head statistics
FC Utrecht have secured better results against the Groningen-based club in recent times. The Utreg secured all three points in three of their last five meetings against the Green-White Army, while Pride of the North emerged victorious in the remaining two
games.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Utrecht-c39237
The 26-year-old has been in fine form since the start of the new season. Netting three goals while setting up one more in seven league appearances, the Swedish talisman would be gunning to add more to his tally in his side’s upcoming encounter against the
Green-White Army, who have conceded a goal in almost every game.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Groningen-c39119
The veteran Brazilian goalkeeper will have to remain on his toes throughout the 90 minutes, as the hosts will be testing him consistently. Should he manage to keep a clean sheet, his side has a bright chance of bagging all three points at the end.
Prediction
It will be a tough game between the two sides, as both teams would be gunning to bag maximum points. However, the Utreg’s recent form puts them the favourites to emerge victorious.
Predicted score-line: FC Utrecht 2-1 FC Groningen.
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