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

The visitors are unbeaten in their last six outings in all competitions, picking up three wins during that time.

Match preview

NEC have had a bizarre start to the season to say the least, currently sitting 11th in the Eredivisie with just one win to their name, which came against FC Volendam on August 14.

Since then, Rogier Meijer's side have gone eight games without a win in the league, and their run of seven consecutive draws was halted last weekend by Sparta Rotterdam courtesy of goals from Dirk Abels and Jonathan de Guzman.

Despite this poor run of form, Meijer's side have the joint-second best defensive record in the division, suggesting that Nijmegen's problem has been finding the back of the net rather than defensive frailties.

Only two sides in the Eredivisie have a worse goal return than NEC, having scored just nine in their opening 10 games.

However, they did manage to get back to winning ways last time out in the KNVB Cup on Wednesday evening with a 3-2 victory over Fortuna Sittard.

Ximo Navarro's own goal, along with strikes from Souffian El Karouani and Pedro Marques in the second half, were enough for NEC to edge a tightly-contested cup tie at the Goffertstadion.

Meijer will see the return to winning ways as a key result, ending an abhorrent run in all competitions, but it remains to be seen whether his side can produce a similar kind of performance in the league.

Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles sit just one point behind Sunday's opponents in the Eredivisie and can leapfrog them with a victory here.

A 92nd-minute equaliser courtesy of Finn Stokkers earned Rene Hake's men a point last time out in league matters against Heerenveen.

That result means Go Ahead Eagles are on a run of three consecutive draws in the Eredivisie, but in similar fashion to their opponents at the weekend, they got back to winning ways in midweek in the KNVB Cup.

A comfortable 3-1 triumph over Helmond Sport, thanks to goals from Jay Idzes, Philippe Rommens and Sylla Sow, meant that Hake's side got their first competitive win since beating FC Emmen 3-0 on September 18.

NEC Eredivisie form:

D

D

D

D

D

L

Go Ahead Eagles Eredivisie form:

L

W

W

D

D

D

Team News

Philippe Sandler made his first start of the season against Fortuna Sittard last time out, so he could retain his place in the defence here.

Joris Kramer and Jordy Bruijn have both missed the last six matches, but both are thought to be close to returning for NEC, so they could get some minutes this Sunday.

Meanwhile, since missing his side's opening fixture against AZ Alkmaar, Philippe Rommens has played every minute of Go Ahead Eagles' campaign and is expected to retain his place in the starting XI.

Finn Stokkers came off the bench to rescue a point for Hake's side against Heerenveen, and he led the line in midweek against Fortuna Sittard, so he could get the nod to start up front again here.

NEC possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Van Rooij, Marquez, Verdonk, El Karouani; Proper, Schone; Tavsan, Tannane, Mattsson; Dimata

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

De Lange; Deijl, Idzes, Amofa, Kuipers; Willumsson, Linthorst, Rommens; Edvardsen, Adekanye; Stokkers

We say: NEC 1-1 Go Ahead Eagles

Midweek marked a return to winning ways for both sides, but they have both struggled to find the net in their respective league campaigns up until this point.

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