Nijmegenvs.Utrecht

Match preview

Fresh from picking up their largest win of the season against Groningen six days earlier, NEC headed to the Mandemakers Stadion on October 9 to lock horns with RKC Waalwijk aiming to win consecutive league games for the first time since August, when they beat PEC Zwolle and Fortuna Sittard.

An even first-half saw Rogier Meijer's men head into the interval on level terms, but the dismissal of Daouda Weidmann just before the break would tip the balance in the second period as Koki Ogawa, Sami Ouaissa and Ivan Marquez all netted to decide the contest.

Since winning just one of their six games between September 14 and October 25, the Eniesee have won three on the spin across league and cup duty to move up to eighth in the Eredivisie table and secure safe passage into the next round of the KNVB Beker.

More impressively, NEC have been impressive at both ends of the pitch in that time, having scored a whopping 13 goals while letting in only three—all of which came in their seven-goal thriller against Zwolle which ended in a 4-3 triumph.

Ahead of a tough assignment against Ajax one week later, Sunday's hosts now target yet another victory to keep the juggernaut rolling in their push to secure continental football having come within touching distance last time out.

Like NEC, Utrecht were also in contention for a place in the Conference League playoffs during the 2023-24 season but eventually lost out to Go Ahead Eagles in the final of the qualifiers on account of a 2-1 defeat.

However, missing out on European football has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Ron Jans's men, who have flown out of the blocks to emerge as PSV Eindhoven's current biggest threat in the title race.

De Domstedelingen battled hard to claim a narrow 1-0 win over Heracles in their most recent outing on November 8 and sit five points shy of PSV at the top of the standings with a game in hand on the league leaders.

Utrecht are set to have their title credentials extensively tested in the first week of December when they face off against PSV and Ajax three days apart, so a win this weekend would set them up perfectly for those heavyweight meetings.

Sunday's visitors will be confident of coming away with all three points given their recent record against the hosts having lost just one of the most recent nine meetings between the teams since 2016, picking up five wins in that time.

NEC Eredivisie form:

D

L

W

L

W

W

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

W

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

Philippe Sandler will not be playing any part for NEC in Sunday's game as he continues his battle with a muscle problem, while fellow Dutchman Dirk Proper misses out with a shoulder problem.

However, Bram Nuytinck is back in contention for the home side once again having missed the victory over RKC Waalwijk last time out through a brief illness.

Utrecht's Kevin Gadellaa is still unavailable for selection due to a knee problem he picked up against Roda earlier this year, and the goalkeeper is still a considerable way off returning to action.

Alonzo Engwanda is also unfit to feature for the away side as Can Bozdogan prepares to miss a second straight game after coming off injured against Sparta Rotterdam earlier this month.

NEC possible starting lineup:

Roefs; Verdonk, Sandler, Marquez, Pereira; Sano, Hoedemakers, Hansen, Gonzalez; Ogawa, Van Crooy

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:

Barkas; Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Fraulo, Aaronson; Rodriguez, Jensen, Cathline; Descotte

We say: NEC 2-2 FC Utrecht

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