Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Gofferstadion in Nijmegen will host Sunday’s Eredivisie game between NEC and RKC, the two teams who are almost level on points in the standings. NEC aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Cambuur, and they must be high on spirits ahead of the visit of RKC. With no fresh injury worries to report, boss Rogier Meijer is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated Cambuur.
The visitors, on the other hand, aim to build on a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar. RKC produced one of their best displays of the season on Matchday 13, but beating NEC on the road is easier said than done. Taking everything into account, we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. RKC forward Zakari Bakkali is widely expected to earn a spot in the starting XI after scoring a brace in the last league match.
Highlighted Player (Vurnon Anita):
Vurnon Anita is yet another product of famous Ajax youth football academy. The defensive midfielder made a great progress during his spell with the Eredivisie outfit as he played for the first team from 2006 to 2012. During the 2011/2012 season Anita was on Newcastle United’s radar, but Ajax chiefs rejected Newcastle’s first bid for the player.
Nonetheless, the two clubs eventually came to an agreement and the Dutch footballer moved to St. James’ Park in the summer of 2012. Vurnon Anita signed for the Magpies for a fee of £6.7 million and he made his Newcastle debut on August 18, 2012 in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the opening game of the season.
After making 133 appearances in the league for the Magpies, Anita joined Leeds United on July 6, 2017, signing a three-year deal with the Championship club. Vurnon Anita made his debut for Netherlands in a 2-1 win over Mexico in May, 2010. His main position is defensive midfield, but he can play as a full-back as well.
Highlighted Team (Waalwijk):
RKC Waalwijk is a Dutch club that competes in the Eredivisie. RKC returned to the Dutch top flight in the 2019/20 season, and they were more than fortunate not to suffer relegation back to Eerste Divisie. Fred Grim’s men were stuck at the bottom of the table when the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, they did not drop to the Dutch second tier. RKC play home games at Mandemakers Stadion, the venue which can hold only 7,500 spectators. RKC Waalwijk are well known for their yellow shirts with blue strips, but their away kit is mainly black. The Mandemakers Stadion outfit have never won the national championship.
RKC, though, represented the Netherlands in European competitions in the past, with team taking part in Intertoto Cup on four occasions. Willem II are seen as one of the club’s main rivals, with the two teams facing each other in the Brabantse derby.