PEC Zwolle vs Nijmegen – News and Probable Lineups

In pursuit of their first win against NEC Nijmegen since 2017, PEC Zwolle is set to host NEC at MAC³PARK Stadion during the matchday four clash this Saturday.

While NEC has maintained an unbeaten streak against the home side across nine contests, Zwolle aims to leverage their Eredivisie win from last week and NEC’s European challenges to put an end to their winless streak against them.

Match overview

However, victories have been rare for Blauwvingers, whose recent 2-0 win over Heerenveen ended a five-match losing streak, bringing joy to Henry van der Vegt’s squad.

Goals from Nick Viergever and Koen Kostons in the second half secured an away victory for the visitors, ending the year-long wait for a win on the road in the Dutch top division.

Since their victory at the now relegated Telstar in August 2025, Zwolle had not managed to secure three points away from home in the Eredivisie, but they provided their travelling fans with a reason to celebrate at last.

After riding high on that uncommon success, Van der Vegt’s team now looks to achieve back-to-back Eredivisie wins for the first time in a year, when they previously accomplished four consecutive victories.

Zwolle’s struggle to maintain a consistent winning streak is a notable weakness, presenting a significant challenge against a side they typically struggle against.

Despite this, the home supporters are optimistic that their squad is facing NEC at a favorable moment, given Dick Schreuder’s men faced disappointment by missing out on the draw for the 2026-27 Champions League.

While they are set to make their European debut in the Europa League, the Nijmegen side had aspirations of a historic appearance in the main draw of the continent’s top club competition.

After suffering a 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt on home soil, and with Gonzalo Crettaz sent off just three minutes into the match, the Nijmegen squad faced an uphill battle to advance with only 10 men.

With their gameweek three match against SBV Excelsior postponed for appropriate preparation for their challenging journey to Norway, Schreuder’s men could not muster a comeback, allowing three additional goals for an aggregate loss of 6-1.

This weekend, the Nijmegen team must recover as they return to league duty in the Eredivisie.

Team News

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Jan Burger (knock) is expected to be evaluated ahead of Saturday’s match, while Younes Namli remains unavailable for PEC due to a knee issue.

Kostons’ goal in the last match marked his first in the league since March, and the leading scorer for Blauwvingers hopes to find the net in consecutive games for the first time since December 2025.

After scoring an own goal against FC Twente, Dylan Mbayo assisted both goals in last weekend’s win over Heerenveen, and the right winger looks to be just as effective this Saturday.

NEC, on the other hand, is missing several key players: Philippe Sandler, Sami Ouaissa (hamstring), Yassin Moslih, Ahmetcan Kaplan (knee), and Perr Schuurs (knee) are all absent.

The highly regarded attackers for the visitors struggled against Bodo, but Dusan Tadic, Bryan Linssen, Tjaronn Chery, and wing-back Clement Bischoff could prove decisive for Schreuder’s squad.

PEC Zwolle probable starting XI:

violator; Aertssen, Graves, Viergever, Van der Haar; Thomas, Sommer; Mbayo, Oosting, Sorensen; Kostons

NEC probable starting XI:

Crettaz; Pereira, Storm, Fonville; Tahaui, Nejasmic, Lebreton, Bischoff; Linssen

As Blauwvingers aim to build on their rare away win, overcoming a nine-match winless streak against NEC presents a significant psychological barrier.

Although Schreuder’s side may be dealing with bruised feelings following their Champions League exit, their experienced attacking lineup possesses the quality needed to secure at least a point.