On Saturday afternoon, Fortuna Sittard will welcome NAC Breda to the Fortuna Sittard Stadion for what promises to be an exciting encounter in the Eredivisie.
With three games to play, Fortuna are still in with a shot of qualifying for Europe, while a crucial three points for NAC would guarantee their safety in the Eredivisie for another season.
Match preview
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Fortuna Sittard saw their hopes of European qualification take a hit last week as they were pushed out of top half of the table, overtaken by FC Groningen in the standings after losing 4-1 to PSV.
Ivan Perisic delivered a standout performance, netting a first-half brace and completing his hat-trick after Noa Lang added his name to the scoresheet, while Fortunezen's only response came from Jasper Dahlhaus.
That defeat marked FSC's ninth loss in their last 15 league matches, with their only win in the past five coming against bottom-three side Willem II at the end of last month by a scoreline of 1-0.
Fortuna's defensive frailties will undoubtedly be a focus for improvement next season, with the side having conceded 52 goals - the fifth-highest in the league - highlighting a vulnerability that has cost them during the run-in.
Danny Buijs's team has also struggled to find form at home recently, winning just two of their last seven league games at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion and failing to score in four of those matches.
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Meanwhile, this weekend is crucial for NAC, as a victory against Fortuna Sittard will guarantee their survival, marking a successful conclusion to their first season back in the top flight after their promotion.
However, it has been some time since NAC tasted victory, as they are winless in their last 12 league games, with seven draws and five defeats, a run that stretches all the way back to mid-January.
Last week, Carl Hoefkens's side suffered their 15th loss of the season, a 3-1 defeat to PEC Zwolle, with Kacper Kostorz netting a late consolation goal in stoppage time after the team conceded three goals in the second half.
While NAC triumphed 1-0 in the reverse fixture against Fortuna in September, they are currently winless in their last seven away league games and have managed just two wins on the road all season.
Team News
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Fortuna Sittard attacker Makan Aiko sustained an injury in the match against Willem II a couple of weeks ago, and it is likely that he will miss the remainder of the season as a result.
In addition to Aiko's absence, the hosts will also be without Onur Demir, Ramazan Bayram, Daley Sinkgraven, Alessio Da Cruz, and Alen Halilovic, all of whom are sidelined due to injury.
After returning from a suspension for accumulating 10 yellow cards against PEC, Jan Van den Bergh was cautioned once again last week, meaning he will now have to serve another one-match ban this weekend.
Van den Bergh will be joined on the sidelines this week by Boyd Lucassen, who is sidelined with a muscle injury, and Roy Kuijpers, who is out with a knee injury.
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; Dijks, Guth, Van Ottele, Pinto; Michut, Bullaude, Fosso; Peterson, Sierhuis, Dahlhaus
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Valerius, Greiml, Busi, Kemper; Sowah, Balard, Leemans, Sauer; Van Hooijdonk, Omarsson
We say: Fortuna Sittard 2-1 NAC Breda
Given the current form of both sides, Fortuna Sittard will likely have the upper hand in this matchup, while NAC's poor run of results, combined with key players missing, puts them at a significant disadvantage, especially away from home.
Fortuna will be eager to bounce back after their heavy defeat to PSV and continue their push for European qualification. We feel the hosts will be able to get the win in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
