NEC Nijmegen v RCK Waalwijk Preview: Waalwijk looking to boost Eredivisie survival chances | OneFootball

RKC Waalwijk travel to NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie on Friday evening hoping to reduce the gap to Willem II and the relegation play-off spot. The side are currently just five points behind Peter Maes’ men, who are on a dreadful run of form. A victory over NEC on Friday night will mount even more pressure on the side that are set to face Ajax on Sunday afternoon.

For NEC, a victory would go someway to ensure they are not suddenly drawn into a battle to avoid finishing 16th. They are currently six points ahead of Willem II and will be eyeing this game as one to win and increase the gap. However, they are not in great form either. The side have won just one of their past nine games, although during this run they did draw with PSV and beat FC Utrecht away from home. Last time out they lost 2-0 away to Sparta Rotterdam. They will have to face Waalwijk without their key player from the campaign so far, Vito van Crooij. The 29-ear-old midfielder is having one of the best seasons of his career, with nine goals and four assists in 23 games. He still has some way to go to beat the 14 goals and 12 assists he managed for Sparta back in the 2022/2023 campaign.

Waalwijk have not won in the Eredivisie since the beginning of February, when they put together a run of three wins in a row against Willem II, Almere City and NAC Breda. They have drawn their last two games, 2-2 against AZ and 0-0 with Heracles. With six games to go, and clashes against Utrecht, Feyenoord and Go Ahead Eagles to come, the side will need to be winning games against the likes of NEC if they want to stay up. Striker Oskar Zawada remains the main man, with nine goals in 24 games. His performances have caught the eye of a number of clubs this season and it is unlikely he will be here next season, regardless of whether or not Waalwijk remain in the Eredivisie.

In the reverse fixture back in November it was NEC who were victorious by a score line of 3-0.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson