NAC Breda and PEC Zwolle square off on Sunday knowing that whoever prevails will highly likely secure their top-flight status for another 12 months.
The 14th and 15th-placed sides in the Eredivisie table currently hold a sizeable lead over the relegation playoff spot with four matches remaining.
Match preview
In their first season back in the Dutch top flight for six years, everyone associated with NAC Breda were always going to be satisfied with survival this campaign.
However, they only sit eight points clear of the relegation playoff spot with four matches remaining due to their excellent start, rather than steady improvement.
Carl Hoefkens‘s side have now gone 11 matches without success and have prevailed from just one of their last 15 games, which came over fifth-placed Twente.
On a more positive note, seven draws – six of which have come by 1-1 scorelines – have been posted in 10 matches, ensuring that NAC have always remained clear of the drop zone.
Furthermore, their last two stalemates have been against Go Ahead Eagles and AZ Alkmaar, albeit Hoefkens’s team conceding a last-gasp equaliser in the second of those encounters.
PEC Zwolle have kept themselves out of trouble with timely victories throughout the campaign, their only back-to-back successes coming in January.
Since then, their only win in 10 came against bottom-placed RKC Waalwijk, that result coming during a four-game unbeaten run prior to last week’s 4-0 reverse at the hands of Feyenoord.
Although there is a seven-point lead over 16th-placed Willem II, Zwolle still need to make the trip to that opponent, emphasising that they can ill-afford a defeat here.
While Johnny Jansen‘s team have won just one away game all season, seven draws on their travels has left them with the 12th-best away record in the division.
Team News
Hoefkens is likely to hand an immediate recall to Jan Van den Bergh after he served a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation.
Terence Kongolo may be the player to miss out in the back five in what may prove to be the only alteration made for this contest.
As for PEC Zwolle, Jamiro Monteiro, Odysseus Velanas and Dylan Mbayo are all pushing for starts after being introduced as substitutes during the heavy defeat at Feyenoord.
Olivier Aertssen, Samir Lagsir and Tristan Gooijer are all in line to remain sidelined due to injury.
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Valerius, Greiml, Mahmutovic, Van den Bergh, Kemper; Sowah, Balard, Leemans, Sauer; Omarsson
PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:
Schendelaar; Reijnders, Graves, MacNulty, Floranus; Thomas, Azzouzi; Mbayo, Velanas, Krastev; Vente
We say: NAC Breda 1-1 PEC Zwolle
Despite the advantage that they have over the bottom three, there will be a few nerves on show for this contest. With that in mind, and aware that a share of the spoils would still be a positive result, we are backing a low-scoring draw on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
