In a potentially season-defining Eredivisie match, NAC Breda are set to host relegation-threatened Sparta Rotterdam at Rat Verlegh Stadion on Friday.
De Parel van het Zuiden will be looking to get back on track after their loss last time out, while De Kasteelheren are in better form than their opponents despite their league position.
Match preview
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Carl Hoefkens's NAC have alternated between losses and draws in their last five games, and are in poor form having won just one league match in 2025.
Most recently, the hosts lost 1-0 on the road to third-placed Utrecht last Saturday, and the manager will be disappointed that his side failed to respond to Oscar Fraulo's decisive strike.
That result left De Parel van het Zuiden 12th in the table, though they are just three points behind eighth-placed Heerenveen, who occupy the division's final spot for access to the Conference League playoffs.
However, Hoefkens's team are also just four points ahead of their opponents, who are at serious risk of demotion this season, so the boss will be aware that three points either way on Friday could define the course of the rest of the campaign.
NAC won 2-0 in their last clash against the visitors back in December, and a repeat of that result could see them lift their eyes upwards and diminish any fears of being drawn into a relegation battle as the business end of the season approaches.
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Meanwhile, Maurice Steijn's Sparta have significantly improved since the turn of the year, and their record of three wins, two draws and two losses in 2025 stands in stark contrast to the eight losses and single stalemate they ended 2024 with.
Last time out, De Kasteelheren thrashed relegation rivals Willem II 4-0 thanks to goals from Mitchell van Bergen and Kristian Hlynsson, as well as a brace from Tobias Lauritsen.
That win took Steijn's side to 23 points for the season, and considering that they are now only one point behind Willem II, two behind PEC Zwolle and three behind NEC Nijmegen, they will be feeling positive about the prospect of Eredivisie survival.
That being said, the visitors are currently in the top flight's relegation playoff spot, and they will have to end their run of back-to-back away defeats if they are to climb up the table this week.
On the other hand, it could be argued that Sparta have faced sides that they expected to lose against given they faced Go Ahead Eagles and Feyenoord in their two most recent fixtures on the road, and with an away win over AZ Alkmaar under their belts from earlier this year, they could walk away with something on Friday.
Team News
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NAC will be without left-back Boyd Lucassen, who is suspended due to accumulating too many yellow cards, so expect Boy Kemper to start on Friday.
However, the hosts will welcome midfielder Maximilien Balard back into the XI after he served a suspension of his own against Utrecht, though right-winger Raul Paula is not anticipated to make the squad this week as he works his way back from injury.
As for Sparta, there are doubts about the availability of midfielder Joshua Kitolano, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury he picked up in January, and Carl Eiting, who was withdrawn with an injury last time out.
If neither are ready to play, Steijn is likely to turn to a midfield three of Kristian Hlynsson, Gjivai Zechiel and Pelle Clement.
In the forward line, Mitchell van Bergen was also taken off due to an injury against Willem II, and if he is not able to take part this week, then expect Mohamed Nassoh, Tobias Lauritsen and Shunsuke Mito to start in attack.
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Busi, Greiml, Van den Bergh, Kemper; Staring, Jensen, Balard, Sauer; Mar Omarsson, Van Hooijdonk
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Bakari, Young, Eerdhuijzen, Van Aanholt; Hlynsson, Zechiel, Clement; Nassoh, Lauritsen, Mito
We say: NAC Breda 1-2 Sparta Rotterdam
The hosts may be higher in the league table, but their form this year has been poor, and with just one win to their name in 2025, it looks unlikely that they will make it two on Friday.
On the other hand, Sparta have been much improved this year, and with the motivation of potentially climbing out of the relegation playoff spot this week, expect them to take all three points in a close-fought win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
