Separated by just two points in the 2024-25 Eredivisie table, Go Ahead Eagles and NEC will do battle at De Adelaarshorst in matchday 15 on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams were on the receiving end of respective defeats last time out, as the hosts came out empty-handed from a five-goal thriller against FC Twente, while the away side were defeated by Ajax.
Match preview
After picking up three wins and a draw in their four matches between September 15 and October 6, Go Ahead Eagles looked to have put their early-season woes behind them, but things have since gone on another downward spiral.
A winless four-game stretch in their subsequent run of matches was snapped in grand style with an emphatic 3-0 win over Almere City to close out November before Paul Simonis's men fell to a 3-2 defeat against Twente last time out.
Despite rushing to a two-goal advantage just after the half-hour mark thanks to a Jakob Breum double, the pride of the IJssel Kowet were stunned by goals from Sam Lammers, Sem Steijn and Bas Kuipers, who completed a remarkable turnaround with nine minutes of normal time left to play.
Managing just five points from the last 15 available, Go Ahead Eagles have fallen off the pace in the race for European qualification and currently sit eighth in the league standings, ahead of Fortuna Sittard only on goal difference.
Currently with the joint-worst defensive record of any team in the top 11 as things stand, Saturday's hosts will need to put their house in order defensively if they are to end the calendar year on a high heading into their final four matches of 2024.
Much of NEC's season so far has been riddled with inconsistent performances, and that was evident once again in their 2-1 defeat against Ajax in Sunday's meeting between the teams at the Goffertstadion.
Sontje Hansen's second goal in as many matches had Rogier Meijer's men dreaming of a first win over Ajax since 2005 early on before goals in both halves from Wout Weghorst settled matters in Nijmegen.
Consecutive Eredivisie wins over Groningen and RKC Waalwijk to kick off November seemed to have revived the Eniesee's topsy-turvy campaign till that point, but back-to-back defeats against FC Utrecht and most recently, Ajax since then have dampened the mood massively.
A tally of 16 points from 14 matches so far is one point better off than NEC's tally at this stage last season, and despite their league position also being two places above this term, there is a huge feeling of underachievement around the NEC faithful.
Team News
Soren Tengstedt continues to be eased gradually back into the thick of things following his return from a knee injury, and the forward will have to wait for his first start since August.
Following his double last time out, Jakob Breum has now been directly involved in six goals (three goals and three assists) for the home side, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Philippe Sandler is back available for NEC once again and should partner Bram Nuytinck in the heart of the defence, with Calvin Verdonk and Brayann Pereira manning either full-back position.
Having scored in all but one of his last five outings for the away side, Sontje Hansen has come into his own of late and will be aiming to come up with the goods once again.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Plogmann; James, Kramer, Nauber, Deijl; Linthorst, Llansana; O Edvardsen, Breum, Antman; V Edvardsen
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Pereira, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Proper, Sano; Hansen, Ouaissa, Onal; Ogawa
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 1-1 NEC
There is little to pick between the teams here, as Saturday's game could easily swing either way, and consequently, we are backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the sound of the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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