Nijmegen vs Telstar – News and Probable Lineups

In a crucial match affecting both ends of the Eredivisie standings, a struggling NEC team will face Telstar at Stadion de Goffert this Saturday evening.

The home side has faced difficulties in recent weeks and must regain form to enhance their Champions League aspirations, while their opponents are urgently trying to avoid relegation.

Match overview

Aiming for their first-ever top-three finish, NEC has enjoyed an impressive season, yet the closing phase of 2025-26 threatens to overshadow what has largely been a celebratory atmosphere in Nijmegen.

Dick Schreuder’s squad recently suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the KNVB Beker final, missing the opportunity for a first cup title, and they have since drawn both of their league matches surrounding that April 19 setback, including a 1-1 draw against Twente last time out.

Dropping points in consecutive Eredivisie fixtures has allowed Ajax and Twente to close the gap, placing NEC at risk of dropping to fifth place if they fail to secure a victory this weekend.

NEC has not won any of their last three encounters with Telstar, although this weekend’s match is only the second ever top-flight meeting between the two teams since 1978, following a 2-2 draw in December’s earlier fixture.

This season, the hosts have only had one previous stretch of four matches without a win, and returning home—where they average 2.5 goals per league game—after a three-week absence could be precisely what they need to get back on track.

Having returned to the Dutch top tier after nearly 50 years away, Telstar is understandably finding the transition challenging, with their Eredivisie status precarious as they head into their final three matches.

Anthony Correia’s team delivered their most notable performance of the season with a commanding 4-1 victory against Sparta Rotterdam on Wednesday, marking only their seventh league win, four of which have come in the second half of the season.

Now five points ahead of Breda, De Witte Leeuwen are virtually safe from automatic relegation, but their current standing in 16th position requires them to navigate the relegation/promotion play-offs to ensure continued presence in the top division.

Yet, Telstar could avoid the play-offs by surpassing Volendam, who are merely one point ahead in 15th. The two sides will meet in their season finale at the Kras Stadion on May 17.

However, to have a chance to leapfrog their relegation rivals, Saturday’s visitors need to remain close in the standings, emphasizing the necessity of claiming all three points in a venue where they have never previously been victorious.

Up against a side noted for their proficiency in second halves, Telstar must be at their peak after the break, particularly since they have conceded 30 out of their 53 goals this season during that period.

Team News

NEC will be without Freek Entius and Basar Onal due to knee injuries, with the former having been sidelined since September.

On the positive side, Ahmetcan Kaplan returns after serving a one-match suspension in the previous round.

With a tally of 12 goals across all competitions, Bryan Linssen is in the midst of his most productive season since 2021-22 and is looking to further extend his goal count.

Telstar’s Adil Lechkar is likely not to return this season after missing the last nine matches due to a knee injury, while Dion Malone remains out following the March international break.

Gerald Alders, aged 20, is a significant doubt for the visitors due to a head injury.

Sem van Duijn is a player to keep an eye on, as he has notched up four goals and two assists in 11 loan appearances since joining from Jong AZ.

NEC probable starting XI:

Crettaz; Kaplan, Nuytinck, Dasa; Sano, Nejasmic, Sandler, Lebreton; Ouaissa; Chery, Linssen

Telstar probable starting XI:

Koeman; Nwankwo, Koswal, Bakker; Noslin, Offerhaus, Hatenboer, Hardeveld; Owusu, Brouwer, Van Duijn

NEC has faced challenges with consistency in their recent outings, yet strong teams tend to demonstrate the ability to bounce back from a rough patch.

We anticipate the hosts to comfortably handle Telstar and solidify their hold on third place.