Preview: Groningen vs. NEC - prediction, team news, lineups

On the other hand, the away side out to keep their dreams of securing European football alive in what has been a successful return to the top tier of Dutch football.

Match preview

Groningen came away empty-handed from the sixth league game running following a 2-1 defeat against RKC Waalwijk at the Mandemakers Stadion on Saturday evening.

After going behind to Michiel Kramer's opener, Dennis van der Ree's men hit back through Ricardo Pepi, before Kramer grabbed his second of the game from the penalty spot six minutes from time to settle affairs.

As a result, Trots van het Noorden remain bottom but one in the Eredivisie table, a whopping 10 points adrift of safety with just five matches left to play.

Coming up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides judging by recent meetings as the last 13 clashes have yielded four wins apiece and five draws.

Having won just one of their last 11 home matches across all competitions, Saturday's hosts are faced with a must-win assignment in front of their fans as they look to complete a seemingly impossible escape from relegation.

NEC suffered their largest home loss of the season last time out as they were thrashed 4-1 by Vitesse when the teams locked horns at Stadion de Goffert on Sunday.

Rogier Meijer's men went into the interval two goals down thanks to strikes from Matus Bero and Kacper Kozlowski before a Vito van Crooy own goal and Ryan Flamingo's second-half clincher put the result beyond doubt.

Currently boasting 35 points from their 29 league games this term, the Eniesee sit tenth in the standings, three points off the top half and a European place.

With just 12 goals conceded on the road this term - a division low - Saturday's visitors just need to up the ante at the attacking end of the field to improve their fortunes away from home.

Groningen Eredivisie form:

L

L

L

L

L

L

NEC Eredivisie form:

L

D

W

L

D

L

Team News

Groningen's Paulos Abraham remains out of action due to a long-term knee problem which has seen him fail to feature since the turn of the year

Jetro Willems also misses out for the hosts through a muscle problem with eighteen-year-old Thijmen Blokzijl still battling with an ankle injury.

Ricardo Pepi has netted five times in his last five appearances for club and country, making the United States international one to keep an eye on here.

NEC's Mathias de Wolf is yet to recover from a muscle problem which he suffered earlier this season and the midfielder will not play any part this weekend.

Robin Roefs and Calvin Verdonk also miss out for the away side through injury, while Oussama Tannane is a major doubt due to a torn hamstring.

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Verrips; Musampa, Balker, Chalus, Dankerlui; Oratmangoen, Suslov, Hove; Manu, Pepi, Antman

NEC possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; El Karouani, Kramer, Sandler, Van Rooy; Proper, Schone; Cissoko, Mattsson, Tavsan; Dimata

We say: Groningen 1-1 NEC

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