Both looking to record three-straight successes for the first time this season, NEC will clash with Fortuna Sittard at the Goffertstadion on Friday night in an intriguing-looking Eredivisie clash.
The hosts have bounced back from poor early-season form to win successive away contests recently, while the visitors have made Fortuna Sittard Stadion a fortress since the start of December.
Match preview
NEC have halted a seven-game winless streak in the Eredivisie with back-to-back victories over the past week, handing Champions League-chasing AZ Alkmaar only their second loss of the term before easing past PEC Zwolle on Saturday afternoon, although the visitors did have to survive a late onslaught of pressure.
The Nijmegen-based club raced into a two-goal lead after 46 minutes courtesy of strikes either side of the half-time whistle from Elayis Tavsan and Bart van Rooij, and although Younes Namli pulled a counter back for the hosts at the Mac Park Stadion, a nervy finish was avoided for NEC when Youri Baas secured the result in added time.
Rogier Meijer's men have moved from 16th place to 10th in the Eredivisie standings following the collection of six points on their travels at the start of December, meaning Friday's hosts are now five points ahead of 16th-placed Almere City and seven in front of Edward Sturing's struggling Vitesse outfit.
After finding the net on four occasions in each of the last two seasons for NEC, Dane Magnus Mattsson is enjoying a stellar campaign so far in 2023-24, currently winning the club's Golden Boot race with eight goals in all competitions, and the 24-year-old also leads his side's assist charts with four in the Eredivisie.
Even through a period of struggle early in the term, NEC never misplaced their shooting boots and have scored the most goals out of any team outside of the top five of the division, with Meijer's side last failing to make the net ripple during the four-goal defeat at league leaders PSV Eindhoven on September 16.
Fortuna Sittard recorded successive victories for the first time in the 2023-24 term with a pair of home wins: 3-1 against relegation-threatened Vitesse and a narrow 1-0 success over RKC Waalwijk on Sunday afternoon, with 24-year-old winger Tijani Noslin netting the decisive strike in the 87th minute.
Fortuna's form at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion has been very impressive as they have collected 17 points from eight contests in front of their home faithful, but it is the club's away record which is the biggest concern, with Sittard failing to win any of their seven Eredivisie outings to date.
Taking a managerial post for the first time since leaving Belgium Pro League side KV Mechelen in October 2022, Dutchman Danny Buijs assumed the role of Sittard boss in the summer and will be looking to guide the club to their first top-half finish after returning to this level in 2018.
A real issue for Friday's visitors has been goals, with Buijs's men finding the net on just 16 occasions in 15 league games so far this season, meaning only Waalwijk, newly-promoted Almere and Vitesse have scored fewer in the opening stages of the 2023-24 top-flight campaign.
The two sides have already locked horns at the Goffertstadion this season during the first round of the KNVB Cup, in which Sittard came out on the losing side of a five-goal thriller on October 19, when goals from Pedro Marques, Souffian Elkarouani and a Ximo Navarro own goal secured a second-round place for NEC.
Team News
NEC could welcome club captain Lasse Schone back into the starting fold on Friday night, with the 37-year-old settling for a place on the bench on the weekend after returning from injury.
Meijer's decision to play with two natural wingers paid dividends at Mac Park Stadion, meaning Sontje Hansen and goalscorer Tavsan have done enough to earn a spot on the flanks once again.
Defender Brayann Pereira is currently recovering from a shoulder injury and will not be back until after the winter break, so Van Rooij is almost guaranteed to retain his place at right-back.
Fortuna Sittard could be without the services of left-back Mitchell Dijks at the Goffertstadion, with the Dutchman forced off near half time against Waalwijk, being replaced by Siemen Voet.
Apart from any enforced changes, the visitors are expected to name the same XI which secured a 1-0 win at the weekend, meaning former Barcelona wonderkid Alen Halilovic will play in the engine room.
After helping Sittard to their first clean sheet since late October, Sadik Fofana and Rodrigo Guth should be the centre-back partnership in front of Croatian goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Van Rooij, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers, Proper; Tavsan; Mattson, Hansen; Ogawa
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Pinto, Fofana, Guth, Voet; Ferati, Duarte, Noslin, Halilovic, Cordoba; Sierhuis
We say: NEC 2-1 Fortuna Sittard
NEC were impressive in their away wins at Alkmaar and Zwolle over the past week, meaning the hosts on Friday will be confident of recording another maximum.
Sittard have been woeful on the road, and despite back-to-back victories at the start of the month, we cannot imagine the visitors earning anything from their trip to Goffertstadion.
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Top tip
Carter White
