RKC Waalwijk vs Roda JC – News and Probable Lineups

RKC Waalwijk is set to return to the Mandemakers Stadion for the crucial second leg of their Eredivisie promotion play-offs first round on Friday, with the tie delicately balanced following a 1-1 draw at Roda JC Kerkrade on Tuesday.

The goal scored at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion leaves the matchup open, with both teams having no clear edge as they head into Friday’s pivotal fixture.

Match overview

RKC Waalwijk earned their place in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie play-offs by defeating Jong PSV 4-1, which secured a sixth-place finish in the league.

Their recent form included three wins, one draw, and two losses across their last six league fixtures, earning them a chance to return to the Eredivisie next season, with their journey continuing against Roda JC Kerkrade on Tuesday.

The Yellow-Blues concluded the regular season in sixth place, achieving 16 wins, 10 draws, and 12 defeats over 38 games.

Sander Duits’s team faced disappointment at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion on Tuesday night as they conceded a last-minute equalizer that denied them a hard-fought victory.

The visitors seemed on course for a notable away win after Denilho Cleonise scored in the 51st minute, but Tomas Kalinauskas equalized in the 95th minute for Roda, setting the stage for a decisive return leg in Waalwijk on Friday.

Head-to-head results have been mixed, with Waalwijk winning twice in their last six encounters, which also includes one draw and two losses, but a win on Friday would see them progress to the next stage of the play-offs.

Roda ended the regular season in eighth place, two spots behind Waalwijk, following a last-day defeat to Jong AZ last weekend, but they still managed to reach the play-offs.

The final six matches reflected Roda’s inconsistency, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats, although Kevin Van Dessel’s side had secured their spot in the Keuken Kampioen play-offs after FC Den Bosch’s home draw against Jong FC Utrecht on April 20.

As a result of their efforts, Van Dessel’s squad faced Waalwijk in the play-offs, and they kept their promotion aspirations alive by clinching a dramatic late equalizer in the recent match.

Cleonise had put RKC Waalwijk ahead shortly into the second half, but Kalinauskas’s equalizer in the 95th minute allowed Roda to level the score and create an exciting return leg on Friday.

On a brighter note, Roda’s prior trip to the Mandemakers Stadion ended with a deserving 2-1 win, featuring goals from Anthony van den Hurk and an 80th-minute effort from Mitchell Paulissen.

Team News

No new injury issues have emerged after the first leg, suggesting Duits is likely to field a lineup similar to the one that nearly secured an important away victory.

Denilho Cleonise remains a vital attacking threat following his goal in Kerkrade, and the squad will be driven by the frustration of conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to Roda JC Kerkrade.

Roda is not anticipated to make significant changes to the team that demonstrated resilience in the first leg, with Tomas Kalinauskas expected to keep his position after his last-minute equalizer sustained their promotion dreams.

The visitors will also enter with confidence from their last visit to Waalwijk, where they recorded a 2-1 win attributed to goals from Anthony van den Hurk and Mitchell Paulissen.

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:

Van Osch; Castillo, Van Gelderen, Van Eijma, Held; Boethius, Postma, Cleonise, Phage; Kuster, Uneken

Roda JC possible starting lineup:

Treichel, Jansen, Van den Buijs, Tol, Kruiver; Nisbet, Beerten, Muller; Griffith, Breij, Van den Hurk

RKC Waalwijk seem positioned to take advantage of this closely contested tie, as they enjoy home advantage at the Mandemakers Stadion, and their overall attacking prowess is likely to play a pivotal role if they maintain their intensity and capitalize on their opportunities effectively.

Although Roda remains a formidable opponent with the potential to produce significant moments, their inconsistency might be detrimental, and with Waalwijk expected to pursue a more aggressive strategy in front of their fans, the hosts are anticipated to emerge victorious in a closely fought battle.