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Reigning champions Feyenoord will welcome NEC to De Kuip in their first Eredivisie match of the year on Sunday.
The hosts played Heracles in their previous league outing before the winter break. They registered a comfortable 4-0 win thanks to Calvin Stengs' first-half brace and second-half goals from Lutsharel Geertruida and Quinten Timber. They continued the winning run in the KNVB Cup, recording a 2-1 win over Utrecht thanks to goals from Stengs and Igor Paixão.
The visitors signed off for 2023 on a four-game-winning run across all competitions. They defeated Fortuna Sittard 4-1 in the Eredivisie and just five days later humbled GVVV 6-1 in the KNVB Cup.
The hosts are in second place in the league standings, trailing league leaders PSV by 10 points. The visitors' three-game winning run in the league has helped them climb to eighth place.
Feyenoord vs NEC Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have crossed paths 93 times across all competitions thus far. As expected, the hosts have been the dominant side in this fixture with 61 wins to their name. The visitors have got the better of the hosts 16 times and 16 games have ended in draws.
- They last met in the KNVB Cup round of 16 last season, with the hosts recording a 5-3 win on penalties after the two teams could not be separated following extra time with a scoreline of 4-4.
- Feyenoord are on a seven-game winning run at home against the visitors across all competitions, with their last home defeat against NEC coming in 2011.
- The visitors are unbeaten in their last five away games across all competitions, recording three wins on the spin.
- The hosts have scored at least twice in 21 of their last 26 league games.
Feyenoord vs NEC Prediction
De Stadionclub signed off for 2023 with back-to-back wins and will look to get 2024 underway with a win as well. They have won six of their last seven home games in the Eredivisie, with the only loss in that period coming to the marauding league leaders PSV. They have lost just once in their last 15 meetings against the visitors and are strong favorites.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Yankuba Minteh, Ramiz Zerrouki, and Ayase Ueda are unavailable due to their commitments to their respective national teams. Fortunately, there are no injury concerns for head coach Arne Slot and he can field a strong starting XI.
NEC concluded 2023 in style, recording four wins on the trot. They continued their form with a 2-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf in a friendly last week. They have scored 14 goals in their last four away games and will look to continue that form in this match.
Head coach Rogier Meijer will be without the services of Brayann Pereira and Lasse Schöne through injuries while Mees Hoedemakers is suspended for the trip to Rotterdam. New signing Yvandro Borges Sanches is likely to be called to action in this match.
Both teams head into the match in great form but considering the home advantage for the reigning champions and better record in this fixture, we back them to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Feyenoord 3-2 NEC
Feyenoord vs NEC Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Feyenoord to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least a goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Santiago Giménez to score or assist any time - Yes
