Almere City FC will play their first away match of the new season against Fortuna Sittard on Friday evening. Coach Hedwiges Maduro will not be able to call on central defender Ricardo Visus and attacker Guillaume Baptiste against the Limburgers, who are both suspended due to their red cards last Saturday during the home match against AZ (0-1).
Maduro will also not be able to rely on his French central defender Theo Barbet in Limburg, who is returning from an ankle injury.
Midfielder Àlex Carbonell is back in the selection after a minor injury and can make his league debut for Almere City FC against his old club. The Spaniard played for Fortuna Sittard in the 2019-2020 season.
Tinkering with the starting eleven
The suspended Guillaume Baptiste will probably be replaced by the Bosnian-Swedish attacking midfielder Adi Nalić against Fortuna Sittard.
It is not yet entirely clear who will replace defender Ricardo Visus at left centre back. Maduro has several options: Christopher Mamengi can fill that position perfectly, but right back Sherel Floranus can also move to the centre (and Akujobi as right wing defender).
Previous confrontations
Last season, the Almere team also played their first away match of the season against Fortuna Sittard. On August 19, 2023, the home team eventually won 2-1 against the team of then City coach Alex Pastoor. Thomas Robinet scored the only Almere goal after a brilliant attack.
Later during the debut season in the Eredivisie, ‘City’ met the Limburgers twice more in Almere: before the competition no goals were scored in the Yanmar stadium (0-0), but on January 17 of this year the Almereers were knocked out of the cup tournament by Fortuna: 1-2.
Historic first victory
‘Away against Fortuna’ is an important milestone in the history of the club. On 16 September 2005, the then FC Omniworld (the predecessor of Almere City FC) booked the very first victory in professional football. The team of then trainer Jan Schulting was too strong for the Limburgers at the time with 2-3.
The match Fortuna Sittard – Almere City FC starts on Friday evening at 8 p.m. and will be led by referee Kooij.
