Preview: NEC vs. Fortuna Sittard - prediction, team news, lineups

Having both suffered defeat in their last outings, the sides will be keen to get back to winning ways in next to no time.

Match preview

NEC were beaten for the fourth time in five league matches following a 3-2 defeat against PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion on Wednesday.

Rogier Meijer's men found themselves three down inside an hour thanks to strikes from Ritsu Doan, Erick Gutierrez and Eran Zahavi before Mikkel Duelund and Jonathan Okita both grabbed late consolation goals.

Nonetheless, the Eniesee remain eighth in the league standings and are on course to secure a place in the qualifiers of the Conference League playoffs.

Awaiting the Nijmegen-based outfit next is the challenge of an opposing side who have lost seven of the nine previous meetings between the teams, including two this term.

Heading into this weekend's contest with the worst home record in the entire division, Sunday's hosts will be keen to close out their league campaign on a high.

Fortuna Sittard fell to a narrow albeit costly 2-1 defeat against Vitesse at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Wednesday.

Sjors Ultee's men broke the deadlock in the penultimate minute of the first half via a Paul Gladon penalty, but they were pegged back by Million Manhoef on the stroke of half time before Lois Openda's second-half strike turned the game on its head.

As a result, the Fortunezen have now dropped into the relegation playoff spot ahead of the concluding round of matches.

Unbeaten in their last two away outings where they have managed four of a possible six points, Sunday's visitors go in search of another big scalp on the road in a bid to beat the drop.

NEC Eredivisie form:

Fortuna Sittard Eredivisie form:

Team News

Andreas Samaris was forced off with an injury in Fortuna's defeat to Vitesse last time out, and the midfielder is a doubt for Sunday's game.

Paul Gladon will be looking to continue his decent form in front of goal having scored three times in his last five outings.

Twenty-two-year-old Pedro Ruiz remains unavailable for NEC, with his last appearance coming back in November 2021.

Calvin Verdonk has missed the last two games with a slight knock, but the Dutchman could make his return to action this weekend.

NEC possible starting lineup:

Branderhorst; El Karouani, Guth, Marquez, Van Rooij; Proper, Schone; Okita, Bruijn, Tavsan; Akman

Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:

Van Osch; Angha, Siovas, Lonwijk; Botaka, Tekie, Tirpan, Cox; Rienstra, Gladon, Semedo

We say: NEC 1-1 Fortuna Sittard

Each of the last five editions of this fixture have ended in both teams finding the back of the net, and we expect that trend to continue. That said, we also tip the teams to cancel each other out and settle for a point apiece at full time.

For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggesed result please click here.

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