NAC Breda will set out aiming to continue their winning run when they entertain the challenge of RKC Waalwijk at the Rat Verlegh Stadion on Saturday evening in round 10 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie campaign.
This weekend's affair will be the first competitive encounter between the sides since May 2018 when they met in the KNVB-Beker, with each of the most recent three clashes coming in pre-season friendlies.
Match preview
NAC Breda not only secured a rare triumph on the road but also picked up consecutive league wins for the first time this term by narrowly defeating PEC Zwolle 2-1 in Sunday's meeting at the MAC³PARK Stadion.
After going into the interval with no efforts on target, Carl Hoefkens's men came out fighting in the second period and surged to a two-goal advantage thanks to an Elias Mar Omarsson double before Kaj de Rooy pulled one back 10 minutes from time.
Since managing just six points from their opening seven league matches, the Rats have now doubled that tally over the last two outings to move up into ninth in the Eredivisie table, just outside the last continental place only on goal difference.
Surviving relegation would have been the major target for Breda on returning to the top flight after a five-year absence, although their recent resurgence has raised some optimism of a much more productive campaign.
Breda recorded just 23 points in their last Eredivisie season en route to suffering relegation in 2019 but are already more than halfway there this time around with less than a third of the campaign played.
A third straight victory on Saturday would further ignite the hosts' recent resurgence in front of their fans, where they have picked up three wins from four games, including an impressive 2-1 victory over Ajax in August.
Seeking their first victory of the season, RKC Waalwijk were left heartbroken as they conceded a last-gasp equaliser against FC Twente when the teams went head-to-head at the Mandemakers Stadion.
Henk Fraser's men were behind after just 10 minutes to Sem Steijn's strike but turned the game on its head thanks to goals in either half from Richonell Margaret and Silvester van der Water, before Carel Eiting restored parity in stoppage time.
While RKC managed to snap their eight-game losing streak last time out, they still remain without a victory this season and are rooted to the bottom of the standings, seven points adrift of safety ahead of this weekend's trip to Breda.
Nonetheless, Waalwijk's performance against Twente is sure to have raised some spirits as they scored multiple goals in a game for the second match running off the back of a 3-2 defeat to Utrecht.
With things looking up in attack, Saturday's visitors must now address their defensive shortcomings, having conceded a league-high 24 goals from nine matches during which no clean sheets have been kept.
Team News
Forward Richonell Margaret has found the back of the net in three of his last four matches and is definitely one to keep an eye on in this weekend's encounter.
Nouri El Harmazi is a guaranteed absentee for Waalwijk due to a long-term shoulder problem which has kept him out of action since the turn of the year.
Richard van der Venne is also not expected to feature for the visitors, but fellow Dutchman Aaron Meijers is available for selection having served a ban last time out.
Nineteen-year-old defender Cherrion Valerius is currently nursing a knee injury and is set to miss a second game on the bounce for NAC Breda.
However, Raul Paula is fit and raring to go again after making his comeback from a six-game injury layoff with a 37-minute cameo appearance last time out.
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Kemper, Van den Bergh, Greiml; Leemans, Jensen, Balard, Moi; Sauer, Omarsson, Kaied
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Van Osch; Lelieveld, Van Eijma, Van Gelderen, Familia-Castillo; Weidmann, Roemeratoe; Van der Water, Van de Loo, Cleonise; Margaret
We say: NAC Breda 1-0 RKC Waalwijk
Waalwijk showed some signs of life in their draw against FC Twente, but Breda are favourites to come away with maximum points in this one.
We can see the home side rising up to expectations and getting the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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