Nijmegen vs Heerenveen – News and Probable Lineups

Both NEC and Heerenveen, in excellent form, are eager to secure a fourth consecutive win when they face off at Goffertstadion on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors are aiming for their first league double over NEC since 2007, following a thrilling five-goal affair they edged earlier this season.

Match overview

Just 11 days after eliminating PSV Eindhoven from the KNVB Beker, NEC achieved what could be their standout result of the season by defeating the Dutch champions-in-waiting 3-2 in Saturday’s match at the Philips Stadion.

Bryan Linssen continued his fine form from the match against PSV earlier this month, scoring a first-half brace that propelled Dick Schreuder’s side to essential three points, briefly placing them second in the Eredivisie before Feyenoord’s 2-1 win over Excelsior.

A victory on Sunday would momentarily elevate NEC back to second place in the table before Feyenoord and Ajax, their primary contenders for a Champions League spot, clash in the high-profile match of matchday 28.

The Eniesee secured victories over Heerenveen in both encounters in 2024, but they head into Sunday’s fixture seeking to prevent a third consecutive defeat, having suffered two losses to the same opponent last year, the latest being a 3-2 defeat in September’s earlier match.

As they prepare for their last game before the upcoming international break, NEC is determined to maintain their momentum over the two-week pause, which is crucial for their final push.

With the second-best home attack in the league, the hosts this weekend have managed to score consistently in front of their supporters. However, defensive weaknesses remain, with 20 goals conceded—only six teams have a worse record.

Following a challenging start to the year with no wins in their initial four league matches of 2026, Heerenveen appears to have turned things around, achieving five victories in their subsequent six games, capped with a commanding 3-0 win over Telstar at the Abe Lenstra Stadion last Sunday.

While the main aim was to secure three points, ending a streak of nine matches without a clean sheet has provided a much-needed morale boost for Robin Veldman’s squad, whose defensive issues had imperiled their aspirations for European competition.

Currently positioned seventh with 40 points, De Superfriezen have already eclipsed their total from the 2023-24 season and require just three more to equal last year’s tally of 43, demonstrating Veldman’s commendable achievements in his first full season.

Nevertheless, the 40-year-old head coach will urge his team to remain focused on their objective of European football. The trip to Nijmegen on Sunday is expected to be a significant challenge, especially considering they have only four wins from 17 away league fixtures thus far.

Much like NEC, Heerenveen has managed to score first in four of their previous five matches, indicating that both sides will be eager to start quickly and assert dominance early on.