Off the back of suffering consecutive defeats for the first time this season, Feyenoord welcome NEC to De Kuip on Sunday aiming to get themselves back on track.
With PSV scheduled to be in action before Feyenoord take to the field in Rotterdam, the hosts could potentially be six points shy of top spot at kick-off this weekend.
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Feyenoord vs NEC prediction: De Stadionclub to make light work of visitors
Key stats
- Feyenoord have gone five matches since their last clean sheet, conceding the opener on all but one occasion.
- Eight of NEC's most recent 10 outings have ended with both teams finding the back of the net.
- While Feyenoord have often been caught out early on in matches lately, the reverse is the case for NEC, who have scored the first goal in five of their last seven affairs.
Correct score prediction: Feyenoord 3-1 NEC
Feyenoord cannot afford any slipups over the next couple of weeks if they are to keep pace with PSV Eindhoven in the title race.
Sunday's hosts have been near-perfect when playing in front of their fans this term, and we are backing them to run out emphatic winners here.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Feyenoord backed to exhibit superiority
- HOME: 2/5 (1.40) – 71.4%
- DRAW: 17/4 (5.25) – 19%
- AWAY: 5/1 (6.00) – 16.7%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
With five wins from six league matches in front of their fans so far, Feyenoord are only behind Utrecht in terms of home points, and the hosts' 71.4% win probability here is hardly surprising.
Robin van Persie's men will be eager to return to winning ways after a 2-1 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles last time out, a second loss in 12 league matches this term.
Despite going unbeaten in six of their last seven outings and coming away with a 2-0 triumph over Groningen in their most recent involvement, NEC are underdogs by a considerable distance this weekend.
The visitors have managed just one away league win all season long ahead of Sunday's trip to Rotterdam, where they have been given only a 16.7% chance of emerging triumphant.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Hosts unbeaten in 13
NEC managed to avoid defeat against Feyenoord across both of last season's league meetings, but remain without a victory in this fixture since December 2015.
Feyenoord have won nine of the 13 meetings during that span, including the 2024 KNVB Beker final.
Netherlands Eredivisie 01/03/25
Feyenoord
NEC
Netherlands Eredivisie 28/09/24
NEC
Feyenoord
Netherlands Eredivisie 12/05/24
NEC
Feyenoord
Netherlands Cup 21/04/24
Feyenoord
NEC
Netherlands Eredivisie 14/01/24
Feyenoord
NEC
Feyenoord preview: Givairo Read missing in action as top clubs circle
Feyenoord's Read has been one of the standout performers in the Eredivisie and has consequently been linked with a move to Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
However, the 19-year-old will not have the chance to further put his quality on display this weekend as he misses out with a muscle problem.
Predicted lineup: Wellenreuther(GK), Lotomba, Ahmedhodzic, Watanabe, Smal, Timber, Steijn, Valente, Hadj Moussa, Ueda & Sauer
Feyenoord's last five matches:
- Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Feyenoord (Eredivisie)
- Stuttgart 2-0 Feyenoord (Europa League)
- Feyenoord 3-1 Volendam (Eredivisie)
- Feyenoord 2-3 PSV (Eredivisie)
- Feyenoord 3-1 Panathinaikos (Europa League)
NEC preview: Youssef El Kachati set for return to action
After a successful spell with Telstar, El Kachati joined NEC as a free agent last summer, recording two goals and an assist in his first eight league matches, albeit with only one of them coming from the start.
The 26-year-old has missed each of his side's most recent two outings with a hand problem but is drawing increasingly closer to a comeback.
Predicted lineup: Crettaz(GK), Sandler, Kaplan, Dasa, Ouwejan, Sano, Nejasmic, Ouaissa, Linssen, Chery & Ogawa
NEC's last five matches:
- NEC 2-0 Groningen (Eredivisie)
- Utrecht 1-0 NEC (Eredivisie)
- Rijnsburgse Boys 2-3 NEC (KNVB Beker)
- Zwolle 2-2 NEC (Eredivisie)
- NEC 3-3 Twente (Eredivisie)
Player to watch – Ayase Ueda
With 13 league goals to his name this term, Ueda has already surpassed his combined tally from his first two campaigns as a Feyenoord player.
The 27-year-old has opened up a five-goal gap at the top of the scoring chart and is firmly on course to set a new personal best for goals in a season.
Blanking in both of Japan's matches during the international break, Ueda has now gone four matches without scoring, but is still a potential game-winner.