Looking to end their worrying winless run, relegation-threatened RKC Waalwijk will do battle with NEC at Mandemakers Stadion on Friday night in a crucial Eredivisie clash.
RKC were beaten heavily at top-three chasers FC Twente last time out, while NEC progressed into the next round of the KNVB Beker with a win over ADO Den Haag.
Match preview
RKC Waalwijk extended their winless run in the Eredivisie to a highly-concerning eight matches last weekend when they made the daunting trip to De Grolsch Veste to face Twente, coming away from the match with a heavy defeat and a 13th loss of the 2023-24 campaign in the top flight.
Tukkers striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel opened the scoring for the hosts in the first period, and things did not improve for RKC after the half-time break, with strikes from Myron Boadu and Younes Taha ensuring that the visitors were unable to return home with a share of the points.
After a remarkable top-half finish last term, Waalwijk are in the midst of a fight for survival under the stewardship of Henk Fraser, with Friday's hosts currently 16th in the Eredivisie standings after collecting just 15 points from 20 games, sitting four points behind Heracles in 15th.
RKC's form at the Mandemakers Stadion has been worrying so far this season, with Fraser's men earning just two wins in 10 top-flight contests in front of their own supporters - their most-recent victory at Friday's venue was all the way back on October 21 against fellow strugglers FC Volendam.
Waalwijk only have seven different Eredivisie goalscorers in their ranks so far, and 35-year-old Michiel Kramer leads the Golden Boot race with six goals in 19 appearances - only the veteran forward, Yassin Oukili and Filip Stevanovic have netted more than once for RKC this term.
NEC Nijmegen stretched their unbeaten run across the Eredivisie and cup competitions to 10 matches on Tuesday night, comfortably beating second-tier outfit ADO Den Haag in the quarter-finals of the KNVB Beker, meaning Friday's visitors are two matches away from lifting a major trophy.
Before that possibility, though, attention must return to league matters, with NEC getting the better of top-flight newcomers Heracles last weekend, when a second of the term from Tjaronn Chery and a brilliant brace from Koki Ogawa secured a three-goal success at Goffertstadion.
After losing just one of their last 13 Eredivisie matches stretching back to early October, Rogier Meijer's men currently occupy seventh position in the top-flight standings, six points behind fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar and a comforting 14 points ahead of the relegation spots.
The Nijmegen-based club have continued their stellar form into February despite the loss of leading marksman Magnus Mattsson, with the
11-goal midfielder securing a lucrative switch to Danish giants Copenhagen in the closing stages of the January transfer window, ending a three-year spell in the Netherlands.
In the knowledge that they would be probably be waving goodbye to one of their key attacking players, NEC made a number of signings during the winter window, with the likes of Sylla Sow and Yvandro Borges Sanches arriving from Go Ahead Eagles and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively.
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Team News
RKC Waalwijk are expected to make a number of changes to the side which lost at Twente last time out, with Denilho Cleonise and Reuven Niemeijer potentially dropping to the bench.
Belgian youngster Ilias Takidine made a bright cameo last weekend and could be rewarded with a starting berth on Friday night alongside Mats Seuntjens in attack.
After bagging an assist off the bench on Tuesday night, January arrival Sow could be handed a start for the visitors, with Sontje Hansen making way.
Ogawa will continue to lead the line for NEC on Friday night, with fellow Japan international Kodai Sano providing ammunition from the flanks.
Following a clean sheet in the KNVB Beker success, Philippe Sandler and Bram Nuytinck should continue as the centre-back pairing for Meijer's men.
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Lelieveld, Adewoye, Van den Buijs, Lotonda; Felida, Oukili, Takidine, Min, Lokesa; Seuntjens
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Van Rooij, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Proper, Hoedemakers, Sow, Chery, Sano; Ogawa
We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-2 NEC
RKC have been enduring an awful run of form recently, and we cannot imagine their fortunes changing against in-form opposition on Friday night.
NEC will be full of confidence following their progression in the KNVB Beker, so we are expecting maximum points for the visitors at the Mandemakers Stadion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.