Matchday 19 of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season sees NEC entertain the challenge of Sparta Rotterdam at Stadion de Goffert on Saturday evening.
The home side set out to return to winning ways off the back of a first defeat of the year, while their visitors seek to stretch their three-game unbeaten run.
Match preview
Aiming to continue their fine start to 2023, NEC Nijmegen fell to a comprehensive 2-0 defeat against Feyenoord in Wednesday's meeting at De Kuip.
Rogier Meijer's men went behind to Javairo Dilrosun's ninth-minute opener after which Orkun Kokcu put the game to bed from 12 yards on the stroke of half time.
While the Eniesee remain ninth in the Eredivisie table, they have now fallen five points adrift of Utrecht in the race for the final European spot.
Coming up next is the task of locking horns against an opposing outfit who are unbeaten in the most recent eight clashes between the teams across all competitions.
Having not lost on home turf in nine consecutive home matches leading up to Saturday's contest, the hosts have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack in front of their fans.
Sparta Rotterdam were held to a goalless share of the spoils by RKC Waalwijk when the sides locked horns at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Tuesday.
Despite being in the ascendancy for large spells of the match, Maurice Steijn's men failed to find the breakthrough their dominance on the day perhaps deserved.
Picking up eight of the 12 points available since the turn of the year, De Kasteelheren sit sixth in the standings but are only three points shy of third spot.
Off the back of four straight clean sheets in league action, Saturday's visitors will be looking to put on another solid defensive display en route to a positive result.
Team News
NEC's Magnus Mattsson remains out of contention through injury, while Jordy Bruijn continues to miss out due to a knee problem.
Oussama Tannane and Ivan Marquez are also unavailable for this weekend's hosts as they serve a suspension, with the latter receiving his marching orders last time out.
Jonathan de Guzman found the back of the net for Sparta in the most recent edition of Saturday's fixture, and the midfielder will be looking to come up trumps once again.
With 12 direct goal involvements (seven goals, five assists) under his belt this term, Vito van Crooy is definitely one to keep an eye on.
NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; El Karouani, Sandler, Van Rooy, Sanniez; Proper, Duelund, Schone; Tavsan, Dimata, Cissoko
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Pinto, Auassar, Vriends, Sambo; Kitolano, Verscheren, Mijnans; Van Crooy, Lauritsen, Saito
We say: NEC 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta have been extremely frugal at the defensive end of the pitch recently, but we expect NEC to get on the scoresheet here. We can also see the teams nullifying the threat of each other en route to a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
