Europe-chasing NEC aim for back-to-back Eredivisie wins for the first time since January when they host Champions League hopefuls AZ Alkmaar in Saturday's gameweek 27 fixture at Goffertstadion.
Rogier Meijer's men secured a 1-0 victory at Utrecht before the March international break, snapping a six-match winless streak, and they hope to build on that success by defeating the sixth-placed visitors.
Match preview
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When NEC achieved consecutive wins over PEC Zwolle and Fortuna Sittard to begin the year, supporters would have believed their team had put a five-match winless run (four losses) that concluded 2024 behind them.
NEC's very next top-flight match, a 3-3 draw against PSV where they came back from 1-0 down and 3-1 down, boosted the Nijmegen outfit's European qualification hopes.
However, five additional winless matches, including three defeats, dimmed those aspirations before a 1-0 away win against Utrecht in third reignited fans' excitement ahead of the hiatus.
Now back in action following the two-week break, Meijer's 11th-placed team aim to secure consecutive wins to close in on eighth-placed Fortuna, whom they trail by three points, in the battle for the final continental qualification slot.
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With seventh-placed Go Ahead Eagles sitting 15 points ahead of NEC in the standings, the Nijmegen-based group's only chance for a potential European campaign hinges on surpassing Fortuna in the table with eight games remaining.
While the hosts, whose top-flight status is not yet guaranteed given their five-point lead over Willem II in the relegation playoff spot, are caught in what appears to be a six-way race to finish eighth, AZ harbour even grander ambitions, aiming as high as third, which secures a spot in the Champions League third qualifying round.
That third position is held by Utrecht, who were defeated by NEC before the break, with the Alkmaar outfit trailing the team in third by five points and having played one game fewer.
Though this does not assure three points, Maarten Martens's squad could end up just two points behind the team they are striving to overtake as the season winds down if they win their outstanding league match.
However, De Kaasboeren face stiff competition from Feyenoord in fourth, who are two points behind Utrecht, FC Twente trailing by three and a Go Ahead Eagles team level with them on 44 points.
While success in the domestic cup guarantees Europa League qualification — Martens's side will face Go Ahead in the final — AZ fans will urge their team to aim higher, eager for a return to Europe's prestigious club competition after a 16-year absence.
Nonetheless, the Alkmaar outfit must secure more away victories to enhance their chances, having managed just one win in five on the road in 2025, including three draws since the start of the year.
Team News
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Apart from Basar Onal and Ivan Marquez, NEC have a fully fit squad for this weekend's match against AZ.
Despite scoring only seven Eredivisie goals, 15 fewer than league-leading Sem Steijn's 22, Vito van Crooij has netted three decisive goals (Steijn has four), highlighting the significance of the right-winger's contributions.
In contrast to their hosts, AZ face several absences on Saturday due to suspension and injury: Alexandre Penetra is serving a one-match ban after his red card at Ajax before the break, while Jayden Addai, Ruben van Bommel, Sem Westerveld, Mayckel Lahdo and Sven Mijnans are all sidelined.
Only Steijn has scored more than Troy Parrott's 12 top-flight goals, and the forward, with six opening goals and three game-winners, hopes to be crucial for the Cheese Farmers this weekend.
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Lyratzis, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Proper, Hansen, Larsen; Crooij, Linssen, Ouwejan
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu-Oduro; Kasius, Indi, Goes, Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Sadiq, Buurmeester, Poku; Parrott
We say: NEC 1-1 AZ Alkmaar
NEC have scored in every home fixture this season, and that trend is expected to continue against AZ on Saturday.
However, a team with only one Eredivisie victory in seven at home facing an opponent with one away win in five suggests that the points could be shared in a score draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
