Heerenveen will be hoping to take a step closer to European qualification when they host NEC Nijmegen at Abe Lenstra Stadion in the Eredivisie on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts are currently in eighth place in the league standings, with 37 points after 30 games, while the visitors are 12th with 33 points, but have played one game less.
Match preview
© Imago
After Go Ahead Eagles beat AZ Alkmaar on penalties in the KNVB Cup final last week, the Eredivisie could have as many as nine teams featuring in the European competitions next season.
If the league were to end today, Heerenveen would secure entry to the Europa Conference League playoffs and could make their return to the continental stage for the first time in over a decade.
Still, even if De Superfriezen fail to make it to Europe, the 2024-25 season is very likely to be a progressive one for them, as they have already equalled their points tally from last term with four games still to play.
Robin Veldman notched up his second league win since arriving at the club last weekend, with his side coming from a goal down to beat basement club Almere City 2-1, thanks to Jacob Trenskow's equaliser and an own-goal by Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp.
That result extended the hosts' current unbeaten record at Abe Lenstra Stadion to six games (W3 D3), while they have only tasted defeat on home soil once in 15 matches this season (W8 D6 L1).
© Imago
In contrast, NEC have endured a significant drop-off this season, and with 33 points to their name so far, they will not be able to surpass their 53-point tally from last term even if they win all of their remaining matches in the campaign.
The Nijmegen-based club picked up just their ninth win of the season last weekend, beating second-bottom RKC Waalwijk 2-1 at home, with Kodai Sano and Bryan Linssen both getting on the scoresheet.
However, most would likely agree that their last match was far from an impressive performance, as RKC had the lion's share of possession and created better chances, while Linssen only managed to find the winner two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the 90.
The visitors have also found away wins hard to come by this season, having only earned 13 points in 14 league outings, while failing to score in three of their last four on the road ahead of this one.
Team News
© Imago
Heerenveen will have to make do without Mats Kohlert this weekend after the German defender was shown a straight red for denying Almere City a clear goal-scoring opportunity last time out.
Last week, Trenskow made his first start since returning from injury, and he should keep his place in the engine room, but fellow midfielder Pawel Bochniewicz, along with Jordy de Wijs, are ruled out through injury.
NEC, on the other hand, will be able to welcome Vito van Crooij back to the squad this week, with the forward having now completed his suspension for the red card he received against Sparta Rotterdam.
The visitors are expected to be missing at least three players this weekend due to injury, including Koki Ogawa (hamstring), Kas de Wit (knock) and Ivan Marquez (groin).
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Noppert; Braude, Kersten, Hopland, Hall; Linday, Brouwers; Sebaoui, Smans, Jahanbakhsh; Nicolaescu
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs, Lyratzis, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Proper, Ouaissa, Sano; Hansen, Shiogai, Ouwejan
We say: Heerenveen 2-1 NEC
While NEC have fared well in this contest in recent times, Heerenveen have one of the best home records in the Eredivisie, currently unbeaten in their last six games at Abe Lenstra Stadion, and we feel they will extend that record with another victory this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
