NEC Nijmegen v Go Ahead Eagles: European push meets mid-table bid | OneFootball

NEC Nijmegen host Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie on Sunday, 17 May 2026 at Goffertstadion, with the hosts aiming to cement a European place and the visitors looking to round off a solid mid-table season.

NEC Nijmegen sit fourth, while Go Ahead Eagles are 12th. Recent meetings have been tight, including a 1-1 draw in Deventer in October, and the head to head leans towards stalemates with a high share of draws.

Form points to a contest of contrasts. NEC have one win in their past five league matches, but drew with Feyenoord and FC Twente in that run. The Supereagles were four unbeaten before losing to PSV, a sequence that featured a 5-0 win over PEC Zwolle and back to back clean sheets.

Team news could trim defensive options on both sides. NEC are without Ahmetcan Kaplan and goalkeeper Freek Entius. The Supereagles list defenders Gerrit Nauber and Pim Saathof, plus midfielder Robbin Weijenberg, among their absentees.

Attacking routes look clear. NEC's 75 league goals at 2.3 per game and 56% average possession point to sustained pressure, with Bryan Linssen on 11 league goals and Tjaronn Chery on 10, supported by creators such as Kodai Sano. The Supereagles have scored 53 and conceded 51, with Mathis Suray on 12 league goals and Victor Edvardsen supplying six assists. With both sides delivering plenty of crosses and NEC posting 11 headed goals, wide service could decide the game.

A home win would strengthen NEC's grip on fourth and the Europa League qualification berth. A positive result for the Supereagles could nudge them higher in mid-table, depending on other results.