Preview: NAC Breda vs Fortuna Sittard - prediction, team news, lineups

NAC Breda play host to Fortuna Sittard on Sunday looking to record their first Eredivisie points of the season.

Meanwhile, Fortuna Sittard make the trip to the Rat Verlegh Stadium having earned a share of the spoils from their first fixture of 2024-25.

Match preview

In their first season back in the Dutch top flight, NAC Breda would have taken survival had it been guaranteed before the start of the campaign, but they impressed to achieve that on merit.

NAC finished as many as seven points clear of the bottom three having racked up 33 points from their 34 fixtures, Carl Hoefkens deserving praise for their performances over the season.

However, NAC were handed a tough start to the campaign with a trip to Feyenoord and it came as no surprise that they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.

A goal during the early stages of each half ensured that Feyenoord were able to cruise to victory, yet Hoefkens will be satisfied that one of their hardest games of the season is already out of the way.

Hoefkens will also have fond memories of the 2024-25 corresponding fixture with NAC running out 1-0 victors back in September.

Meanwhile, Fortuna Sittard's target for the season will be trying to finish in the European playoff places having only recorded an 11th-placed finish during the last campaign.

Goals proved to be their issue with just 37 coming from 34 games, but they were able to net twice during an entertaining draw with Go Ahead Eagles in their first game of 2025-26.

That result is tinged with disappointment, however, with their opponents having been down to 10 men from the 54th minute onwards yet still managing to score a 93rd-minute equaliser.

Nevertheless, it is a point that Fortuna Sittard would have taken before the game, and this is kind of winnable contest that could see the club sit in the upper echelons of the table by the end of the weekend.

NAC Breda Eredivisie form:

Fortuna Sittard Eredivisie form:

Team News

Hoefkens may insist on selecting the same NAC Breda XI given the difficulty of their first game at Feyenoord.

Token substitutions were made once the game was realistically out of their grasp, and the likes of Sydney van Hooijdonk - who only netted once last season - may be given another chance to lead the line.

Meanwhile, Luka Tunjic may have forced his way into the Fortuna Sittard starting lineup through his goal as a substitute against Go Ahead Eagles.

However, the 19-year-old is competing with Makan Aiko, who provided the assist, and the more-experienced winger could get the nod with Danny Buijs ahead of Kristoffer Peterson.

NAC Breda possible starting lineup:

Bielica; Valerius, Mahmutovic, Kongolo, Kemper; Lucassen, Balard; Talvitie, Sowah, Nassoh; Van Hooijdonk

Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:

Branderhorst; Pinto, Adewoye, Hubner, Dahlhaus; Fosso, Michut; Limnios, Brittijn, Aiko; Gladon

We say: NAC Breda 1-2 Fortuna Sittard

With home advantage in their favour, NAC Breda will fancy their chances of earning at least a point from a team such as Fortuna Sittard. However, the visitors would have taken the positives from gaining a draw with Go Ahead Eagles last week, providing them with the belief to edge this contest.

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