Two sides in need of a positive result in the Eredivisie will face off on Saturday evening at Goffertstadion, where NEC will be playing host to PEC Zwolle.
Neither side have earned a point in their first two matches of the 2024-25 league season, with the hosts currently in 14th place while the visitors are bottom of the table.
Match preview
NEC enjoyed a progressive 2023-24 campaign, finishing in sixth place with 53 points, which was their best tally since promotion three seasons ago, and ended the term just three points outside a European qualification spot.
They suffered just nine defeats in 34 league games last season, but four of those came in their final five matches, and that poor form continued during pre-season when the side failed to win any of their three friendlies, losing two and drawing one.
Unfortunately for Rogier Meijer's side, things have not improved in the new season, as they have suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two games, starting with a 2-1 loss at home to Twente before a 1-0 defeat on the road against AZ Alkmaar last time out.
A notable and unwanted trend that NEC seem to be developing is a tendency to start very poorly, conceding early in both matches this season, while they have failed to keep a clean sheet heading into the half-time break in four of their last five top-flight games.
However, despite this, the hosts will be confident of breaking their league duck this weekend, as they are unbeaten in their last four matches against this opponent, winning two and drawing two.
Meanwhile, after successfully maintaining their top-flight status last season, PEC Zwolle have got off to the worst possible start this term, and are already at the bottom of the table after only two gameweeks.
Blauwvingers got the new league campaign underway with a 1-0 loss away to Utrecht before suffering a crushing 5-1 defeat at the hands of last season's runners-up Feyenoord at home last week.
Against the Pride of South, PEC were still in the contest at the break at 1-0 down, but the visitors on the day came out guns blazing in the second period and scored four goals in the space of 15 minutes before the hosts netted a consolation goal three minutes from time.
Johnny Jansen's side earned exactly half of their 36-point tally on the road last season, but failed to win any of their final seven away games during the run-in, conceding 19 goals during that period.
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Team News
Rober Gonzalez and Bart van Rooij started both matches for NEC this season, but the duo were withdrawn before the final whistle against AZ and are flagged as doubts for this match with knocks.
The hosts also have three confirmed absentees for this weekend's fixture, with Philippe Sandler (hamstring), Yvandro Borges Sanches (ACL) and Lars Olden Larsen (knee) all ruled out through injury.
For the visitors, Braydon Manu sustained an injury in the opening game of the season to Utrecht and missed last week's match. He is a doubt for this one along with Nick Fichtinger, who picked up a knock in the defeat to Feyenoord.
Samir Lagsir underwent surgery to his knee late last season and is still some way from returning to action, while Tristan Gooijer is likely to miss the remainder of the calendar year, also due to a serious knee injury.
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Pereira, Marquez, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers, Proper; Sano, Hansen, Onal; Ouaissa
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Reijnders, El Azzouzi, MacNulty, Lutonda; Van den Berg, Fontana, Krastev, Velanas, Mbayo; Buitink
We say: NEC 2-1 PEC Zwolle
While both these sides have made very underwhelming starts to the season, PEC have looked particularly poor so far, and we feel that the hosts will be able to grind out their first win of the new campaign here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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