Matavz and Vleminckx to shine in FC Groningen versus NEC Nijmegen – Dutch Eredivisie Preview
All eyes would be on the Eredivisie top goal-scorer, Bjorn Vleminckx, when NEC Nijmegen clashes with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Groningen-c39119 at the Euroborg Stadion on Sunday, April 24.
FC Groningen
Pride of the North are coming in to this match on the back of a demoralising 2-1 loss at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitesse-c40905 Arnhem at the GelreDome Stadion last week. The visitors put up a good show on the road, but ended the match on the losing side.
Pieter Huistra, Green-White-Army manager, would be disappointed with his side’s recent performances. However, he believes that his troops would stage dominant show in the remaining weeks and end the season on a high note.
The Green-White-Army played impressively in the first half of the season and it seemed like they would emerge as the Dutch champions. However, they staged a poor show in the recent couple of months, winning only thrice from their last ten encounters.
Pride of the North are currently placed seventh in the league table and looking confident to play in the UEFA Europa League play-offs next season. They have an overall record of 31 played, 15 won, 5 drawn and 11 lost.
Huistra would be hoping that his side bags all three points in the upcoming encounter in front of their home crowd and improve their current standings in the league table.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/NEC-c40018 Nijmegen
NEC are coming in to this game following a hard fought 2-1 loss from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AFC-Ajax-c38228 Amsterdam at their home soil. However, NEC are satisfied with their performances in the ongoing season, as they finished 13th in the table last term.
The outfit from Nijmegen are currently placed 12th in the league table, trailing the last Europa League play-offs berth by mere two points. They have a good chance to finish the season in the top eight Eredivisie sides, if NEC manages to secure
maximum points in the remaining fixtures.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wiljan-Vloet-c36841, NEC manager, would be hoping that his side bags all three points in the remaining fixture and keep their European dream alive. However, he knows it will not be an easy task to achieve.
Players to watch
Tim Matavz – FC Groningen
The 22-year-old prolific striker is the leading goal-scorer for his side, scoring 15 goals in 27 fixtures. He will be one of the key players for the home side to secure all three points in this fixture.
Bjorn Vleminckx – NEC Nijmegen
The 25-year-old striker has been in exceptional goal scoring form, finding the net in almost every game. He has scored 19 goals in 29 appearances and will be looking to add more to his tally. He will certainly make things difficult for the home side. It
will be hard for the Green-White-Army defenders to restrict him from finding the net.
Head-to-Head statistics
Pride of the North have won two of their last five encounters against NEC. Two matches ended in stalemates while NEC emerged victorious in the remaining encounter.
Prediction
Both sides attack pack is in good form and it seems like the match will prove to be high scoring game. Pride of the North have to pack their defence strongly if they want to bag all three points in this fixture. Moreover, they are playing in front of their
home crowd that puts them the favourites to win the match. It will be a 4-3 win for the home side.
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