NEC Nijmegen
- NEC Nijmegen are unbeaten in 5 matches in all competitions (Won 2, Drawn 3).
- NEC are 4th in the Eredivisie standings with 32 points from 18 games.
- They have done so at home, where they have won five, drawn two and lost only once in Eredivisie play at Stadion de Goffert this season, scoring 23 goals in the process.
PEC Zwolle
- They score goals too - averaging 1.5 per game on the road in Eredivisie matches - so they can make a contest like this one very open.
- Koen Kostons has been their most reliable goal scorer this term with eight in 19 games, but Shola Shoretire has found his goal touch in recent games, providing three of Zwolle’s last seven goals and adding a different dynamic to the front three.
- Zwolle’s recent form has been mixed, with the 1-1 away draw with FC Twente being sandwiched between a 3-1 home win over AZ Alkmaar and 2-1 away defeat to Excelsior.
Recent meetings
NEC have had two draws at home in their last two games, a minor wobble that may have been caused by the festive break, but they will want to bounce back against a team they have not lost to in five Eredivisie meetings (Won 3, Drawn 2).
Who to watch
- NEC’s Kento Shiogai has scored 7 goals in 12 Eredivisie games this season.
- Koen Kostons has been their most reliable goal scorer this term with eight in 19 games, but Shola Shoretire has found his goal touch in recent games, providing three of Zwolle’s last seven goals and adding a different dynamic to the front three.
Markets to consider
- A goals average of 2.88 per game at home can be a real factor in a game where the oddsmakers are pricing over 2.5 goals at a low 1.38.
- A 2-2 tie away at Zwolle two months ago suggests this could be another open contest, but the fact that NEC are the clear favorites at 1.44 with Zwolle 5.9 shows where the value is.
Final call
- Despite the visitors’ high-energy approach, NEC should have far too much possession and quality to lose this game.
- Back the hosts to take all three points on Saturday.
