Eredivisie · Matchday 12 
Our pick Home win Missed
Utrecht and NEC Nijmegen separated by one point in Eredivisie
Utrecht sit 12th, one place and one point above 13th-placed NEC Nijmegen after 11 matches. Both sides are looking to respond to a defeat, while NEC arrive without a win in eight.
📍 Stadion Galgenwaard
Preview written:
All Matchday 12 matches Full head-to-head
Match report
Final result: Utrecht 2-3 NEC Nijmegen.
Match statistics (home team first). Shots: 16–16; Shots on target: 5–7; Corners: 3–8; Expected goals: 2.1–2.2.
Goals
- 34' Kevin Kers · Mitchel Bakker · NEC Nijmegen
- 38' Dušan Tadić · Deveron Fonville · NEC Nijmegen
- 56' Yoann Cathline · Ángel Alarcón · Utrecht
- 58' Dušan Tadić · NEC Nijmegen
- 64' Dani De Wit · Nordin Amrabat · Utrecht
Cards
- 72' Nordin Amrabat · Utrecht
- 85' Bryan Linssen · NEC Nijmegen
- 89' Clement Bischoff · NEC Nijmegen
- 90' Yoann Cathline · Utrecht
- 90+2' Willum Thor Willumsson · NEC Nijmegen
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: D. Tadić (NEC Nijmegen) 8.8
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Utrecht · 4-3-3
- 1V. BarkasG
- 23N. VesterlundD
- 3M. DiddenD
- 5N. PanagiotouD
- 32P. KloosterboerD
- 80M. BroholmM
- 8J. van OvereemM
- 20D. de WitM
- 11Ángel AlarcónF
- 9Artem StepanovF
- 10Y. CathlineF
Coach: A. Correia
NEC Nijmegen · 3-4-2-1
- 1G. CrettazG
- 73Gabriel BrásD
- 22A. KaplanD
- 24Deveron FonvilleD
- 34Kevin KersM
- 6D. NejašmićM
- 20N. LebretonM
- 5M. BakkerM
- 9T. CheryM
- 10D. TadićM
- 30B. LinssenF
Coach: Dick Schreuder
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Utrecht | 1.7 | 2.8 |
| NEC Nijmegen | 1.5 | 1.7 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Utrecht | 11 | -12 | 12 |
| 13 | NEC Nijmegen | 11 | -2 | 11 |
Last meetings
- 2026 NEC Nijmegen 1-3 Utrecht
- 2025 Utrecht 1-0 NEC Nijmegen
- 2025 Utrecht 0-1 NEC Nijmegen
- 2024 NEC Nijmegen 1-2 Utrecht
- 2024 Utrecht 1-0 NEC Nijmegen
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Open game
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.64 – 1.58
- Double chance
- 12 · 75%1X 64% · X2 61%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 63%Over 1.5: 84% · Over 3.5: 40%
- Both teams score
- 65%
- Clean sheet
- 21% – 19%Utrecht–NEC Nijmegen
- Half-time result
- X · 38%1 32% · 2 30%
- Half-time / full-time
- 1/1 · 23%2/2 22% · X/X 14%
- Expected corners
- 9.34.3 – 5.0 · Over 9.5: 46%
- Expected cards
- 3.61.7 – 1.9 · Over 3.5: 46%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
One point between them
Utrecht and NEC Nijmegen meet with little separating them in the Eredivisie table: Utrecht are 12th on 12 points, while NEC are 13th on 11, with both having played 11 matches. The one-place, one-point gap gives this encounter direct significance for the shape of the middle-to-lower part of the standings.
Utrecht’s goal difference is -12, compared with NEC’s -2, despite the hosts being a place higher. Utrecht have won three league games, drawn three and lost five; NEC have two wins, five draws and four defeats. A victory would offer either side a chance to create some breathing room over a close rival.
Recent results point to a tight test
Utrecht have taken two wins, a draw and two defeats from their last five league matches, scoring eight goals and conceding 12. Their most recent league outing ended in defeat. At home, they have one win, two draws and two losses in five matches, with nine goals scored and 15 conceded.
NEC are in a more prolonged search for a win: they have gone eight matches without one and lost their latest league game. Their last five brought four draws and a defeat, with six goals for and seven against. Away from home, however, they have managed two wins and a draw alongside two defeats in five matches.
Utrecht have edged the recent meetings
Utrecht have won four of the last five meetings, with NEC winning the other and no draws. Three of those five games featured two goals or fewer. The most recent, in February 2026, ended NEC Nijmegen 1-3 Utrecht.
Late defensive questions
Neither side has kept a clean sheet in the league so far. Utrecht have conceded 31 goals in 11 matches, while NEC have conceded 19, a contrast that makes the hosts’ defensive record a concern despite their slightly higher position. Utrecht have scored 19 league goals to NEC’s 17, and both teams will be seeking a more secure performance after losing their latest matches.
Our prediction
The table gap is narrow, but Utrecht’s stronger recent head-to-head record and home advantage give them a slight edge. NEC’s eight-match winless run is a concern, though their away results suggest they can remain competitive; the expectation is a close game with goals at both ends.
Utrecht 2-1 NEC Nijmegen
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