Feyenoord and NEC Nijmegen do battle in the final of the KNVB Beker at De Kuip on Sunday evening.
Although last season's Eredivisie champions are favourites to prevail, particularly when the game is at their home ground, their opponents have been one of the surprise packages of the Dutch top flight.
Match preview
© Reuters
Feyenoord began this season looking to defending their league title and have a prolonged run in Europe, but Arne Slot's side have been left to try to lift the KNVB Beker for the first time since 2018.
There has been very little wrong with Feyenoord's form; they are on a 16-match unbeaten streak in the Eredivisie, a run lasting since December.
Furthermore, they only bowed out of the Europa League to Roma in the playoff round on penalties, but Slot's side can at least end the campaign with silverware to their name.
In a competition where the final is played at their home ground, Feyenoord have also played each of their four ties in this year's tournament at De Kuip.
FC Utrecht, last season's winners PSV Eindhoven, AZ Alkmaar and Groningen have all been defeated, albeit with Feyenoord never scoring more than twice in a single game.
These two sides are no strangers to meeting in this competition, with Feyenoord overcoming NEC on penalties in last season's quarter-finals.
NEC are a far different animal though, now, with Rogier Meijer's side sitting in sixth position in the Eredivisie table, six places higher than in 2022-23.
Just two losses have been posted in their most recent 17 Eredivisie matches; NEC also drew 2-2 with Feyenoord in the corresponding league fixture at De Kuip in January.
In order to reach the final of a competition that they are bidding to win for the first time in their history, NEC have defeated Roda JC, GVVV, Go Ahead Eagles, ADO Den Haag and Cambuur, the latter in extra time in the semi-finals.
Team News
© Reuters
Barring any injury issues, it is plausible that Slot keeps with the same Feyenoord XI that started at Fortuna Sittard last Sunday.
After three clean sheets in a row, no alterations are likely to be made to the backline, but Ramiz Zerrouki and Ayase Ueda are options further forward.
Although Justin Bijlow was able to return to the substitutes' bench last weekend, second-choice goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther should retain his place between the sticks.
Dirk Proper was a surprise starter for NEC against PEC Zwolle last week after a hamstring injury, but the midfielder had to be withdrawn after just 32 minutes.
The likelihood is that Kodai Sano will move into central midfield with Roder being brought in on the flank, while Lasse Schone is pushing to return to the squad for the first time since the end of March.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Nieuwkoop, Beelen, Hancko, Geertruida; Stengs, Wieffer, Timber; Minteh, Gimenez, Paixao
NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Pereira, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers, Sano; Hansen, Chery, Roder; Ogawa
We say: Feyenoord 2-0 NEC
Although many may view this contest as a foregone conclusion, it should - in reality - be a competitive fixture with NEC relishing their tags of underdogs. Nevertheless, Feyenoord should have enough experience and quality about them to put in a professional performance and secure a win, maybe even with a clean sheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
