Preview:NAC Breda vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

A place in the quarter-finals of the 2022-23 KNVB Beker is up for grabs on Tuesday, when NAC Breda and Heerenveen lock horns at Rat Verlegh Stadion.

The home side saw off the threat of Eindhoven FC in the round of 32, while their visitors narrowly defeated fellow Eredivisie outfit FC Volendam.

Match preview

Heerenveen were beaten for a third consecutive match on Saturday evening following a 1-0 defeat against FC Utrecht at the Stadion Galgenwaard.

In-form striker Anastasios Douvikas opened the scoring in the 69th minute, and that was enough to put Kees van Wonderen's men to the sword.

Consequently, De Superfriezen have now fallen six points adrift in the race for the final European spot in the Eredivisie table currently occupied by Utrecht.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost just one of the most recent four meetings between the teams across all competitions.

Having failed to win any of their last six matches on the road, Tuesday's hosts now seek to turn their away fortunes around and keep their hunt for a first domestic trophy since 2009 alive.

NAC Breda saw their four-game unbeaten run in 2023 come to an end courtesy of a narrow 2-1 loss against ADO Den Haag at the Cars Jeans Stadion on Friday.

A Jordy Wehrmann opener and Tijs Velthuis's own goal left Dick Advocaat's men with a mountain to climb at half time, after which Odysseus Velanas pulled one back.

With 31 points picked up from 23 league outings, Parel van het Zuiden have dropped to 11th place in the Eerste Divisie standings, albeit just three points shy of the last promotion playoff spot.

Off the back of three straight wins on home turf by a combined score of 9-3, Tuesday's hosts will be confident of getting the job done in front of their fans once again.

Team News

Breda's Odysseus Velanas found the back of the net for the sixth time in as many matches last time out, making him one to look out for here.

Jort van der Sande was absent from his side's defeat to Den Haag due to a muscle problem, and the 27-year-old is a doubt for Tuesday's contest.

January arrival Jeffrey Bruma is expected to be unavailable for Heerenveen after the Dutchman came off with an injury against Utrecht last time out.

This should see Syb van Ottele earn a return to the starting lineup off the back of two consecutive cameo appearances off the bench for the defender.

NAC Breda possible starting lineup:

Kortsmit; Wernersson, Velthuis, Besselink, Rutten; Velanas, Staring, Agougil; Omarsson, Boere, Banzuzi

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Mous; Kohlert, Bochniewicz, Van Ottele, Van Ewijk; Colassin, Tahiri, Haye, Olsson; Van Hooijdonk, Van Amersfoort

We say: NAC Breda 1-2 Heerenveen

Heerenveen have been largely underwhelming away from home of late, but they will back themselves to see off the threat of lower league opposition nonetheless. While we expect Breda to put up a good fight, we are backing their visitors to carry the day and progress to the last eight.

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