NAC Breda v NEC Nijmegen: survival fight meets European push | OneFootball

NAC Breda host NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie on Saturday, 17 January 2026 at Rat Verlegh Stadion, with the hosts battling the relegation play-offs and the visitors eyeing European qualification.

NAC Breda are 16th with 14 points from 18 games, while NEC Nijmegen are fourth on 29 points from 17. The reverse fixture in August ended 3-0 to NEC.

Form points to contrasting momentum. NAC Breda are winless in five league matches, drawing at Groningen last time out. NEC are unbeaten in five league games, a run that included wins over Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam and Volendam before draws with Telstar and Ajax.

Squad availability could shape selections. For NAC Breda, Terence Kongolo is injured, Fredrik Jensen is sidelined, and Cherrion Valerius is suspended. NEC Nijmegen are without Bram Nuytinck through injury, Bryan Linssen is suspended, while Youssef El Kachati and Freek Entius are out injured.

The match-up may hinge on attack versus resilience. NEC average 2.5 goals per game with 57% possession and 58.88 shooting accuracy, while NAC Breda have scored 16 league goals and kept two clean sheets. Kento Shiogai has seven league goals, Koki Ogawa six, and Basar Önal has six assists for NEC. Sydney Van Hooijdonk leads NAC Breda's chart with five league goals. With eight headed goals this season, NEC could threaten aerially, while the hosts' crossing volume may offer a route to test the visitors' defence.

A home win would lift NAC Breda to 17 points and could pull them closer to safety. Victory for NEC would take them to 32 points and strengthen their push for European qualification.