Eredivisie | Gameweek 17

Dec 22, 2024 at 3.45pm UK

Sportpark Den Donk

Willem II vs Nijmegen

Match preview

Willem II suffered arguably their most disappointing result of the campaign last time out, as they were knocked out of the KNVB Beker by lowly Noordwijk at Sportpark Duinwetering on Thursday.

Goals in each half from Emiel Wendt and Arantis Roep left Peter Maes's men with a mountain to climb, before Jeremy Bokila pulled one back within two minutes of coming on as a substitute to set up a frenetic final half hour.

De Superkruiken's 1-0 win over Zwolle ended a run of consecutive defeats and a three-game winless streak since they beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 on 10 November.

While Willem II have struggled for consistency in terms of results so far, they currently sit just three points off the Conference League's final play-off spot and a healthy seven points clear of relegation danger.

Only PSV Eindhoven, Ajax and AZ Alkmaar have conceded fewer goals than Sunday's hosts (18), but their attack could do with a boost as only four teams have found the back of the net less often, and all of them are in the bottom six.

NEC Nijmegen looked to have turned their season around when they returned from the international break in October with four wins from five in all competitions, but their form has since taken a turn for the worse.

A run of three consecutive defeats to FC Utrecht, Ajax and Go Ahead Eagles was snapped by a 1-1 draw with Sparta Rotterdam, before Rogier Meijer's men were knocked out of the KNVB Beker by Heracles on Wednesday.

NEC have failed to match last season's sixth-placed finish and currently sit 12th in the standings, although with a five-point cushion over the bottom three, there is no immediate threat of relegation.

The Eniesee can certainly find another gear in the second half of the campaign, but their immediate concern will be to end 2024 with a win to lift the spirits ahead of the New Year.

The visitors, who are unbeaten in 14 consecutive editions of this fixture dating back to 2008, have more than held their own against the hosts and will be confident of coming away with another positive result.

Recent Performance

Willem II Eredivisie form:LWDLLW

Willem II form (all competitions):WDLLWL

NEC Eredivisie form:WWLLLD

NEC form (all competitions):WLLLDL

Team News

Kyan Vaesen and Niels van Berkel have both been ruled out with knee injuries, while Dani Mathieu is still struggling with a knock.

With defensive duo Rob Nizet and Mickael Tirpan still unavailable, Per van Loon could be in line for another start after coming on for 62 minutes against Noordwijk.

Amar Ahmed will miss his seventh consecutive match for the home side through injury, but the midfielder is inching closer to a return to action.

Since being sent off in the first half of NEC's 5-0 defeat at the hands of Go Ahead Eagles earlier this month, Bram Nuytinck has missed the next two games and is on course to be ruled out of Sunday's clash.

Despite not scoring in his last five games for the away side, Koki Ogawa is expected to lead the line again as the 27-year-old looks to add to his team-high five goals.

Possible starting lineup

Willem II possible starting lineup:

Didillon; Schouten, Behounek, St. Jago; Sigurgeirsson, Lackhar, Bosch, Doodeman; Meerveld, Joosten, Bokila

NEC possible starting lineup:

Roefs; Verdonk, Alvarez, Sandler, Pereira; Proper, Sano; Hansen, Ouaissa, Onal; Ogawa