Eredivisie | Gameweek 11

Nov 3, 2024 at 3.45pm UK

Mandemakers Stadion

RKC Waalwijk vs Almere City

Match preview

Although RKC Waalwijk have generally been a team content to survive in the Eredivisie, they could not have imagined that they would be so far off the pace at this stage.

They have taken just one point from their opening 10 games, a 2-2 draw at home to European qualifiers FC Twente.

A staggering 28 goals have been conceded in those 10 outings, with Henk Fraser's men conceding at least twice in each encounter.

On the bright side, however, RKC recorded a 3-1 win over Vitesse in the KNVB Beker on Wednesday, scoring both goals in the opening 34 minutes.

Eight points adrift of 15th place, Fraser will be hoping his side have finally turned a corner ahead of the biggest game of the season so far.

Meanwhile, Almere City's fortunes have been mixed in the competition, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Quick Boys piling pressure on coach Hedwiges Maduro.

Until 25 October, Maduro had failed to register a single win since his appointment in the summer, with a 1-0 win over NEC Nijmegen initially easing the pressure on his appointment.

However, the result against the Quick Boys highlighted the vulnerability of the Black Sheep, who have scored just five times in 10 league games.

With Feyenoord next up, Almere can ill-afford a seventh Eredivisie defeat, especially when it would bring their opponents back into the battle to avoid the relegation zone.

Recent Performance

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form:LLLLDL

Almere City Eredivisie form:DLLLDW

Team News

RKC will be without Faissal Al Mazyani through suspension after the defender was sent off as a substitute in the 4-1 defeat at NAC Breda.

Mohamed Ihattaren could make his first league start of the season after working on his fitness in recent weeks, including a 45-minute appearance in the same game.

Tim van de Loo is likely to be dropped to make way for the playmaker.

Meanwhile, Almere City are likely to field the same team that beat NEC 1-0.

They made a number of changes for the defeat at the hands of the Quick Boys, a move that did not pay off, but Maduro's first-choice players will be fresh for this fixture.

James Lawrence, Baptiste Guillaume and Alex Balboa are all expected to remain on the sidelines.

Possible starting lineups

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:

Osch; Lelieveld, Eijma, Gelderen, Familia-Castillo; Roemeratoe, Weidmann; Water, Ihattaren, Cleonise; Margaret

Almere City possible starting lineup:

Bakker; Akujobi, Visus, Barbet, Zagaritis; Haye, Tahiri; Delaurier-Chaubet, Kamp, Kadile; Robinet