- Head-to-head: NEC and Groningen are split 1-1 over the last two Eredivisie meetings, with Groningen winning 2-1 at home five months ago.
- Form: NEC are winless in their last five across all competitions, drawing three and losing two.
- Away form: Groningen have an away record of two wins, one draw and one defeat in the Eredivisie 2026/2027, scoring 11 goals on the road.
Open contest expected in Nijmegen
Home concerns
NEC Nijmegen are winless in their last four home Eredivisie 2026/2027 games, drawing two and losing two, and have scored just five goals in those four games. So the 2.02 odds on the home team doesn't look favorable when FC Groningen visit Stadion De Goffert on Sunday.
Recent results
NEC Nijmegen have drawn their last three games, first a 1-1 away draw at AFC Ajax in the Eredivisie 2026/2027 and then a 1-1 draw at home to PFC Levski Sofia in the UEFA Europa League – League Phase 2026/2027 last Thursday. But a 5-1 thumping of Excelsior away from home in the Eredivisie 2026/2027 indicates that Dick Lukkien's side can strike quickly on the counter-attack.
Groningen tactics
Indeed, the Groningen boss, in charge since 1 July 2023, plays his side in a compact 4-3-3 system where the front three press the opponents, the six in behind protect the defence and the two wide wingers cover the flanks. It's a high-risk approach that can pay off handsomely when it does.
Groningen can get into transition
Groningen's current form has seen them climb to seventh spot in the standings with 14 points from nine games, compared to NEC in 11th place with nine points from eight. So this should be a fairly even game, as they haven't won either of their two away games against NEC.
Groningen have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five in all competitions, which is a solid stretch even after they were humbled 2-5 at home by Ajax today. NEC's 3-4-2-1 formation under Dick Schreuder, who has been in charge since 1 July 2025, is all about playing through lines and creating chances quickly in behind. So this game is a pressing matchup with two sides that prefer to win the ball high and get on the attack as quickly as possible.
Stalemate expected in stalemate-happy Nijmegen
The home side have been struggling to win recently and are in mixed-to-poor form, but they do grind out results against tough opposition so there's no way that this game will be a one-sided match.
- The odds for the draw at 3.9 look a little low, but there's a decent chance the visitors are involved in a 2-1 correct score as Groningen have been sharper on their travels, with 11 goals in four away Eredivisie 2026/2027 fixtures.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.48 and both teams to score at 1.42 should have some value, however, as an open game with plenty of chances is expected.
- Tjaronn Chery is NEC's most reliable man with three Eredivisie 2026/2027 goals in six games, two of which have come in their last five goals.
- Brynjolfur Andersen Willumsson leads the scoring for Groningen in the Eredivisie 2026/2027 with four in seven games, while Thom van Bergen has four of their last 12 goals in all competitions.
