Telstar v NEC Nijmegen: survival fight meets top-three push | OneFootball

Telstar host NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie on Saturday, 13 December 2025 in Velsen-Zuid, with bottom facing third as the relegation battle meets a Champions League qualification bid.

NEC Nijmegen have held the upper hand in recent meetings, with four wins to Telstar's two across the last eight, and arrive with momentum in the league picture.

Form points both ways. Telstar are winless in five league games but have drawn four of them, while NEC have stitched together four straight league wins, including 4-2 at Feyenoord and a 3-1 home victory over Sparta Rotterdam.

Availability could shape selection. Telstar list defender Devon Koswal as injured. NEC are without Jasper Cillessen, Bram Nuytinck, Philippe Sandler, Youssef El Kachati, Brayann Pereira and Noé Lebreton through injury, while Ahmetcan Kaplan is suspended.

The match-up may hinge on NEC's punch in the box against Telstar's resilience. NEC average 2.6 goals per game with 57% possession and have scored seven headers. Koki Ogawa and Kento Shiogai each have six league goals, and Bryan Linssen leads their creativity with six assists. Telstar average 1.1 goals per game, have two clean sheets, and could lean on delivery from Jeff Hardeveld and Guus Offerhaus, both on three assists this season.

A win would move Telstar to 14 points and could lift them off the foot of the table or at least close the gap to the relegation play-off place. NEC would rise to 30 points and could strengthen their grip on the Champions League qualification spots.