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

Fortuna Sittard will face off with leaders NEC Nijmegen as they look to claim their first victory of the Eredivisie season on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the visitors head to the Fortuna Sittard Stadion aiming for their fourth consecutive win in the 2025-26 campaign.

Match preview

Having finished 11th last season, Fortuna will be looking to better their lot this term by aiming for a European playoff place.

That said, their start to the season has not been what they hoped for, having recorded a 2-2 draw in their opening fixture before a 2-1 loss to NAC Breda.

That result extended their winless run in the competition to four matches for the first time since May 14.

Currently 16th and in the relegation playoff position, the hosts will be desperate to claim the much-needed victory to kick-start their charge towards the upper echelon of the standings.

However, last season’s corresponding fixture ended in a 3-0 victory for the visitors, while the hosts have suffered four losses in their previous six meetings across all competitions.

While results have not gone the way of the home side, NEC Nijmegen have been churning out points.

They continued their blistering start to the season with yet another emphatic victory last weekend, courtesy of a 3-0 win over NAC Breda at the Goffertstadion, with goals from Tjaronn Chery, Basar Onal and Vito van Crooij.

That outcome extended their winning run to three games, leaving them as one of the two sides with a 100% record, along with PSV Eindhoven in the top flight.

The attacking prowess of Dick Schreuder’s team has been pivotal to their impressive start to the campaign, having recorded 12 goals and conceded only one in that time.

On the road, they are fairly strong, as they have won three of their last four league fixtures away from the Goffertstadion.

Fortuna Sittard Eredivisie form:

NEC Eredivisie form:

Team News

Currently, Fortuna Sittard have a host of players confined to the treatment room, and Danny Buijs will be pondering the best team to send out given the injury situation.

Congolese Samuel Bastien (illness), Bayram Ramazan (knee), Alen Halilovic (ankle) and Daley Sinkgraven (knee) are all ruled out of this encounter.

Kristoffer Peterson, who recorded seven goals and two assists last term, is still an integral part of Buijs’s plan, and he is expected to provide support for Justin Lonwijk, along with Philip Brittijn and Dimitris Limnios.

Paul Gladon will also sit out this fixture, as he is currently recuperating from an ankle injury. Kaj Sierhuis is also ruled out due to an undisclosed injury.

For the away side, Schreuder may be reluctant to tinker with his team, as the current crop of starters are producing results.

Bram Nuytinck is on the mend from a cruciate ligament surgery, while Van Crooij will be looking to be involved from the start, after coming off the bench to find the back of the net in their 3-0 victory over NAC Breda last time out.

Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:

Branderhorst; Pinto, Adewoye, Hubner, Dahlhaus; Fosso, Brittijn; Peterson, Limnios, Van Crooij; Lonwijk

NEC possible starting lineup:

Crettaz; Pereira, Sandler, Verdonk; Ouissa, Proper, Sano, Onal; Linssen, Chery; Ogawa

We say: Fortuna Sittard 1-3 NEC

Considering the form of both teams, the away side are undoubtedly the favourite, and smart money should be on them to claim a comfortable 3-1 victory this weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.