Go Ahead Eagles will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Eredivisie this weekend when they travel to Rat Verlegh Stadion to face NAC Breda on Saturday evening.
The visitors are on 45 points after 28 games and occupy seventh place in the league standings, while the hosts are down in 15th place with 30 points over the same period.
Match preview
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NAC Breda enjoyed a very promising first half of their first season back in the top flight, but since the turn of the calendar, they have been slipping in the standings and are now just six points above the relegation playoff spot.
Indeed, the Pearl of the South earned 22 points over their first 17 league games this season, but after losing to Ajax 3-1 on the road last week, they have now managed just eight points in their last 11 league games.
Against the league leaders last week, Leo Sauer gave Carl Hoefkens's side a dream start, netting the opener inside the first 10 minutes of the match, but their lead was wiped out by the interval and they never looked likely to get back in the contest in the second period.
That result extended NAC's winless run in the top flight to nine matches (D4 L5) since the end of January, while it was also the fourth time during that period they dropped points from winning positions.
However, despite their struggles of late, the hosts have been a tough side to overcome on their home patch, currently unbeaten in their last five matches at Rat Verlegh Stadion, which included holding Feyenoord to a draw and beating Twente.
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Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles were in great shape leading up to the international break, having picked up seven wins and a draw in 10 games, while also booking their place in the KNVB Beker final.
However, directly after the international break, they suffered a 3-2 loss to Feyenoord on the road and were unable to hold on to a two-goal lead against Utrecht at home last weekend, drawing the match 2-2.
Still, it has been a progressive campaign for the pride of the IJssel, who are just two points behind fifth-placed Twente and just one point shy of the 46 that they managed across the entire of last season.
The one area Kowet will want to improve over the final stretch of the season will be their away form, as they have conceded two or more goals in each of their last four league games on the road, with three of those matches ending in defeat.
Team News
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Boyd Lucassen was withdrawn at the interval in NAC's draw against Groningen a couple of weeks ago after picking up a knee injury during the first half, and he is now ruled out for the rest of the season.
Raul Paula will also sit out this match due to a knock, while Maxime Busi has missed the last two games with an injured leg and is only expected to return to the squad at the end of the month.
Go Ahead Eagles were dealt a fairly significant injury blow last week, with Dean James sustaining a hamstring strain, which will force him to sit out the KNVB Beker final later this month.
The Indonesian international will be joined on the sidelines this weekend by the midfield duo of Soren Tengstedt and Jakob Breum, who have not featured since February owing to a broken foot and ankle injury, respectively.
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Kortsmit; Greiml, Mahmutovic, Van den Bergh; Valerius, Kemper; Sowah, Balard, Leemans, Sauer; Omarsson
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, Everink; Linthorst, Llansana; Suray, Edvardsen, Antman; Smit
We say: NAC Breda 2-2 Go Ahead Eagles
While Go Ahead Eagles are enjoying a solid season, they have been leaking goals on the road with regularity of late, and we feel the hosts, who are unbeaten in their last five at home, will be able to earn a share of the spoils in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
