Aiming to bridge the gap between themselves and a top-eight spot, surprise package NAC Breda will host Champions League-chasing FC Twente at Rat Verlegh Stadion on Sunday afternoon in the Eredivisie.
Parel van het Zuiden returned from the winter break with a disappointing defeat at their base last time out, whilst the Tukkers have endured a mixed start to 2025 across league and cup duties.
Match preview
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Following relegation from the Eredivisie during the 2018-19 campaign, NAC Breda spent five arduous years in the second tier, although Sunday's hosts were able to secure a long-awaited promotion back to the top table last season after a successful playoff run, despite only finishing eighth during the regular term.
As a result, it was expected that Parel van het Zuiden would seriously struggle to stay afloat in the top tier during 2024-25, although Carl Hoefkens's troops have defied all pre-season expectations, recording standout victories over the likes of Dutch giants Ajax so far.
Ahead of this weekend's tricky test against the Tukkers, NAC Breda are occupying 11th spot in the Eredivisie standings, a mammoth nine points ahead of Sparta Rotterdam in the relegation playoffs and just three points behind eighth-placed Fortuna Sittard, meaning that an unlikely European push is on the cards for the newly-promoted side.
For all of the positivity around Rat Verlegh Stadion so far this term, Parel van het Zuiden will be aware of the need to quickly address a worrying form of late, with Sunday's hosts losing three straight league contests either side of the winter pause, including a 4-2 home defeat to Heerenveen last time out.
Netting a brace during that loss last weekend, Elias Mar Omarsson took his Eredivisie goal tally to five for the 2024-25 campaign, a commendable feat considering that the Icelandic attacker netted on just three occasions across 21 Eerste Divisie games during 2023-24.
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Largely representative of their season so far, FC Twente have experienced a mixed start to the new calendar year, one which began with a 6-2 smashing of top-flight newcomers Willem II on home soil, although Joseph Oosting's men have since been knocked out of the KNVB Cup by Go Ahead Eagles.
The Tukkers are now only fighting on two fronts as they look to rise up the Eredivisie whilst competing for continental glory in the Europa League, with Sunday's visitors winless across their first six League Phase matches in Europe, meaning that they face an uphill battle to qualify for February's playoffs.
Focusing on domestic matters for the moment, the battering of Willem II last time out pushed Twente up to fifth place in the Eredivisie rankings, five points behind high-flying FC Utrecht in third and just a single point back from Feyenoord, who currently occupy the Europa League spot.
Bagging a hat-trick in front of his beloved De Grolsch Veste faithful during his side's most recent league fixture, attacking midfielder Sem Steijn is continuing to enjoy a sensational campaign, with the 23-year-old leading the division's scoring charts, boasting 15 goals from 17 appearances.
Nine games unbeaten across home matches in the top flight, Twente need to slightly improve their away form if they wish to seriously challenge for a Champions League berth during the second half of the term, with Oosting's men winning four of their nine Eredivisie outings to date.
Team News
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NAC Breda are short of options at right-back due to the absence of Cherrion Valerius, who has not featured for his club side since the victory over NEC in early October.
Parel van het Zuiden are also battling on without the services of striker Kacper Kostorz, with the Polish attacker currently nursing a hamstring issue.
A provider of some magical moments for Twente so far this term - including a goal at Old Trafford versus Manchester United - Sam Lammers is sitting in the medical room of the visitors.
The Tukkers' picks at the top end of the pitch are further reduced by the fitness woes of winger Younes Taha, who suffered a broken leg in September.
Whilst Mees Hilgers continues to recover from an issue of his own, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck and Gustaf Lagerbielke should retain their spots at centre-back.
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Busi, Greiml, Van den Bergh, Kemper; Jensen, Janosek, Van Hooijdonk, Leemans, Sauer; Omarsson
FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Lagerbielke, Van Hoorenbeeck, Kuipers; Kjolo, Sadilek, Rots, Steijn, Vlap; Van Wolfswinkel
We say: NAC Breda 1-2 FC Twente
After defeating Ajax earlier in the campaign, NAC Breda will be looking to take the scalp of another Dutch powerhouse at Rat Verlegh Stadion on Sunday afternoon.
Despite their inconsistencies on the road so far this season, a Steijn-led Twente should have enough quality to collect maximum points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
