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

Groningen travel to NAC Breda in matchweek eight of the Eredivisie on Friday, aiming for their first win at the Rat Verlegh Stadion since 2015.

Both teams suffered defeats in the previous round, with NAC losing to Ajax and Der FC failing to win a fourth consecutive league game as they were beaten by table-topping Feyenoord.

Match preview

After two games without losing, earning four points against FC Twente and Heracles, NAC were unable to extend their unbeaten streak to three, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Ajax in Amsterdam.

Carl Hoefkens’s team fought hard in the defeat, even equalising through Sydney van Hooijdonk in the 14th minute; however, the Breda-based side conceded what turned out to be the winning goal a minute after half time, slipping to their third away loss and fourth in total.

Considering their winless record away from home — Hoefkens’s side have just one point from four away matches — a return to home comforts will be welcome for NAC, who have accumulated six points from nine at their own ground.

That sole defeat was a 1-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in late August, a result sandwiched between 2-1 victories over Fortuna Sittard and Heracles.

Nevertheless, what could undermine their chances is their lack of clean sheets this season, with Parel van het Zuiden conceding at least one goal in all seven games prior to the upcoming round on Friday.

Groningen will aim to exploit their opponents’ tendency to concede goals, hoping to end a decade-long wait for maximum points in Breda since their exciting 5-4 victory in May 2015.

Since that nine-goal thriller, Der FC have visited NAC four times across the top and second tiers, losing two and drawing two.

The most recent visit was in March, resulting in a 1-1 draw for Dick Lukkien's team, who now seek their fifth top-flight win of the season to erase last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to league leaders Feyenoord.

De FC were chasing a fourth consecutive league victory against Robin van Persie's team but fell short in the 1-0 defeat, dropping to sixth in the table.

Groningen's three wins came after a start marred by two league losses in three games — a 4-1 defeat at AZ and a 4-2 loss at PSV Eindhoven — yet Lukkien has tightened the defence, leading to an improvement in their position.

Now, the team that have either won or lost all seven matches, aim to secure a fifth triumph that could see them rise to fourth by the end of the weekend.

NAC Breda Eredivisie form:

Groningen Eredivisie form:

Team News

While NAC did not appear to sustain any injuries against Ajax, they will be without the suspended Max Balard following his red card for two yellow cards, and the injured Moussa Soumano (knee).

Although the Ajax game ended in defeat, Van Hooijdonk has scored in consecutive Eredivisie matches and now aims for a third goal in back-to-back top-flight games.

Groningen will have to navigate Friday's match without Tygo Land after the second-half substitute was booked eight minutes apart during second-half stoppage time against Feyenoord.

Unlike their hosts, the FC are concerned about the health of several players: Marco Rente and Jorg Schreuders left the game injured in the third and 68th minutes against Feyenoord, meaning they could join Brynjolfur Darri Willumsson, Oskar Zawada and Noam Emeran on the sidelines.

With five-goal forward Willumsson likely absent, Younes Taha could be crucial to the away side’s attack, having created the most clear-cut chances (three), scored two and assisted two, placing him level on four goal involvements with Rente and one behind the injured Willumsson.

NAC Breda possible starting lineup:

Bielica; Lucassen, Greiml, Hillen, Kemper; Holtby, Leemans; Talvitie, Nassoh, Sowah; Van Hooijdonk

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Mercera, Blokzijl, Janse, Peersman; Jonge, Resink; Werff, Taha, Seuntjens; Van Bergen

We say: NAC Breda 0-1 Groningen

While the precedent in Breda is unfavourable to Groningen, especially considering that they have only two away wins in 2025, this current team were in good form before losing 1-0 to league-leading Feyenoord last weekend.

We anticipate the FC will return to winning ways at NAC, thus ending a decade-long wait for success in Breda and securing their fifth league victory.

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