Preview: Go Ahead Eagles vs. NEC - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides have struggled to pick up points in recent weeks and are marooned in the middle of the league standings as we head into this weekend's round of fixtures.

Match preview

Since a 1-0 success in the KNVB Cup against Eerste Divisie side Heracles last month, Go Ahead Eagles have gone four games without a victory in the Eredivisie, with a mixture of difficult games and poor performances to blame.

As much as the Eagles will not want to admit it, their 4-1 loss to second-placed AZ Alkmaar and 2-0 away defeat to PSV Eindhoven would have been expected amongst supporters, however it is the manner of their recent displays against Utrecht and RKC Waalwijk that have disappointed.

Rene Hake's side enter the month of February in 12th position in the Eredivisie table, with only a four-point buffer over Emmen who sit in the relegation playoff zone and a seven-point advantage over Cambuur in 17th.

Go Ahead Eagles have been reliant on the goals of Bobby Adekanye and Willum Thor Willumsson so far this campaign with both players netting five times in the league, and you feel their youthful energy in offensive areas will be an important tool as Hake's men look to turn their form around.

The next couple of weeks look set to be a crucial period for Hake's men who face off against Emmen and Cambuur in games will decide if their slight worries of a relegation battle turn into a full-blown panic.

Despite there being just a two-point difference between NEC and their hosts on Sunday afternoon, the visitors are looking upwards instead of nervously behind them as the Eredivisie season enters February.

Rogier Meijer's side are enjoying a solid campaign so far, highlighted by the fact they have lost fewer games in the league than title-chasing PSV, with NEC tasting defeat on just four occasions in their opening 19 matches.

The reason the Nijmegen-based club are not sitting higher than 10th at this stage is their inability to turn draws into maximum points, with NEC having won just four matches this season - only the division's bottom three have been victorious fewer times.

Belgian Landry Dimata is currently leading the club's scoring charts with five strikes, so it is not hard to imagine that NEC struggle for goals, with Meijer's men netting just six times in nine away outings so far this campaign.

As much as supporters will be looking upwards to seventh place and that coveted Europa Conference League playoff spot, most will realise a season without the relegation concerns of last year will be an undoubted success for their side.

Go Ahead Eagles Eredivisie form:

D

W

D

L

L

L

NEC Eredivisie form:

W

D

D

W

L

D

Team News

Go Ahead Eagles remain without left-back Bas Kuipers who dislocated his elbow in the win at Fortuna Sittard last month, with the 28-year-old expected back at the start of March.

Spaniard Jose Fontan has deputised for the injured Dutchman and should retain his place in the XI after scoring his first of the season at Waalwijk on Wednesday night.

A longer-term absentee for Hake's side is midfielder Philippe Rommens, with the Belgian doubtful for Sunday's home encounter as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in November.

NEC have an influential winger in their medical room ahead of this weekend's clash in Deventer, with Dane Magnus Mattsson a doubt for Sunday due to an injury picked up in the draw with Vitesse over a fortnight ago.

Pedro Marques came off the bench to grab the equalising goal against Sparta Rotterdam last weekend and should be rewarded with a starting berth in this match, an inclusion which could see a change of system for Meijer's men to a two-man forward line.

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

De Lange; Deijl, Amofa, Nauber, Fontan; Linthorst, Idzes, Edvardsen, Willumsson, Adekanye; Lidberg

NEC possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Van Rooij, Marquez, Sandler, Elkarouani; Schone, Proper, Tavsan, Cissoko; Dimata, Marques

We say: Go Ahead Eagles 1-1 NEC

Go Ahead Eagles are coming into a crucial stage of their season and need to start picking up maximum points to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle this campaign.

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