Preview: Groningen vs. NEC - prediction, team news, lineups

NEC visit the Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion for their meeting against Groningen on Saturday aiming to avoid a third consecutive league defeat.

On the other hand, the home side set out to extend their ongoing three-game unbeaten run and continue their recent surge up the Eredivisie table.

Match preview

Groningen were involved in a second straight share of the spoils away from home following a 1-1 stalemate versus Feyenoord at De Kuip on Saturday.

Danny Buijs's men broke the deadlock midway through the first half courtesy of Michael de Leeuw before Cyriel Dessers restored parity in the 71st minute.

Having amassed five points from the last nine available, The Pride of the North sit 10th in the league table as things stand with only one point now separating them from the top half.

A chance to keep this fine run of form going awaits against an opposing outfit who are unbeaten in the last seven meetings between the teams dating back to 2015.

Saturday's hosts have often played out low-scoring affairs on home turf this term and will be looking to keep it tight at the back to give themselves a good chance of securing all three points.

NEC were on the receiving end of a 3-1 thrashing at the hands of AZ Alkmaar when the teams went head-to-head at Stadion de Goffert on Sunday.

In a game where Hakon Evjen and Rodrigo Guth netted for either side, Jesper Karlsson was the star of the show as he grabbed a brace to put Rogier Meijer's men to the sword in Nijmegen.

The Eniesee remain ninth in the league table but have now fallen nine points adrift in the race for the last European spot which is currently occupied by Utrecht.

With 21 of their 31 points so far coming away from home, Saturday's visitors will be hopeful of another positive result on the road in a bid to string together a good run of results in the final knockings of the campaign.

Team News

Forward Wilfried Bony will have to wait a little longer for his NEC debut as he continues to battle with a muscle injury since joining from Al-Ittihad FC.

Pedro Ruiz and Rens van Eijden also miss out through knee injuries, while Jordy Bruijn is sidelined for a sixth straight game due to a hamstring problem.

Ivan Marquez missed the visitors' defeat to AZ last time out, but the Spaniard could return to the starting XI for this one.

Groningen's Daniel van Kaam and Radinio Balker are guaranteed absentees, with 23-year-old Jan Hoekstra also likely to sit out this weekend's contest.

With no fresh injuries to report from the last outing, we expect Danny Buijs to name a similar XI following his side's dogged display against the more illustrious Feyenoord.

Groningen possible starting lineup:
Leeuwenburgh; Van Hintum, Kasanwirjo, Te Wierik; Meijer, Duarte, Suslov, El Hankouri; Abraham, Larsen, De Leeuw

NEC possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; El Karouani, Odenthal, Guth, Van Rooy; Schone, Duelund, Barreto; Okita, Akman, Mattsson

We say: Groningen 1-1 NEC

Both teams are closely matched in the league table, and we expect a tight affair in this one with neither team giving too much away. We are also backing a share of the spoils with the sides settling for a point apiece come the final whistle.

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