Preview: NEC vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to return to winning ways after dropping points in their respective outings last time out, NEC and FC Utrecht face off at Stadion de Goffert on Wednesday.

With only goal difference separating the sides after the first five rounds of matches, the contest has all the makings of an absorbing affair.

Match preview

Utrecht were unable to record a fourth straight home win this term following a 2-2 draw versus RKC Waalwijk at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday.

Rene Hake's took the lead in the fourth minute through Simon Gustafson, before goals from Jens Odgaard and Alexander Buttner turned the tie on its head, only for Anastasios Douvikas to level matters with the only strike of the second half.

The Domstedelingen are in sixth place at the moment having amassed eight points from a possible 15 so far, five adrift of current leaders Ajax.

Their next task sees them go up against an opposing side who have proven to be a tough nut to crack, as the last 17 meetings involving the teams have yielded six wins apiece for either side and five draws.

Wednesday's clash is the first encounter between the outfits since the 2016-17 season, where the visitors picked up four points across both fixtures.

NEC Nijmegen were involved in a share of the spoils for the second match on the trot following a 1-1 draw versus Sparta Rotterdam on Friday.

Rogier Meijer's men opened the scoring just shy of the half-hour mark through Jonathan Okita, but Sven Mijnans restored parity in the penultimate minute of the first half.

Like Utrecht, the Eniesee have also recorded eight points this term and would move above the former should they manage to claim all three points on Wednesday.

The hosts are still yet to concede a goal on home turf this term and another clean sheet here would serve as a perfect bedrock for a positive result.

Team News

Utrecht's defensive duo of Tommy St Jago and Reda Akmum are unavailable for their side's trip to Nijmegen as they continue to nurse knee problems.

The visitors will also have to make do with the absence of Christopher Mamengi after the Dutchman damaged his knee in a pre-season friendly.

Simon Gustafson was hauled off with an injury less than 20 minutes into the game versus Waalwijk last time out, making him a doubt for this one.

Rens van Eijden is set to sit out a 10th consecutive fixture as he remains ruled out with a knee problem which he picked up back in May.

Nineteen-year-old Mathias De Wolf is not expected to feature for the home side due to a muscle injury, but he is increasingly close to making a comeback.

NEC possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; El Karouani, Odenthal, Marquez, Van Rooij; Schone, Proper, Duelund; Akman, Bruijn, Okita

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Paes; Warmerdam, Janssen, Van der Hoorn, Ter Avest; Maher, Van Overeem, Van de Streek; Ramselaar, Sylla, Douvikas

We say: NEC 1-2 FC Utrecht

NEC have punched considerably above their weight since their return to the top flight and have every reason to be confident of another positive result in this one. However, we are backing a more experienced Utrecht side to claim the victory here, albeit only by a narrow margin.