De Graafschap vs NAC Breda Predictions

The Eredivisie’s bottom two clubs clash in a true relegation six-pointer on Friday night, where a win for either side would be huge and a draw is likely to leave both sides frustrated. Hosts De Graafschap were impressive in their last home game beating fellow newly promoted side Fortuna Sittard 5-1, but followed that result up with a defeat away at Excelsior. The visitors haven’t won since returning from the winter break, losing to Willem II and drawing at home to Den Haag last time out.

De Graafschap were the better side over the ninety minutes against Excelsior and probably should have been in front at the break, but instead the teams went in goalless at halftime. The frustrated visitors had 59% of the overall possession, ten corners to their hosts none, and ten shots to Excelsior’s six, but in the seventy-sixth minute, and against the run of play, Bruins handed the home side the lead. De Graafschap pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but in stoppage time they were hit with a sucker punch when El Hamdaoui scored to wrap up a 2-0 win for Excelsior.

Breda found themselves 1-0 down at the interval at home to Den Haag last time out, following Lorenzen’s twenty-first minute effort. However, just five minutes of the second half had passed when Kastaneer scored to level the teams at one goal apiece. From that point on Breda looked the more likely of the two teams to go on and claim all three points, but Den Haag held firm and the points were shared, much to the frustration of the home fans.

We’re expecting chances at both ends of the pitch in Friday’s game as both teams defences have been poor over recent weeks. Just one of De Graafschap’s and one of Breda’s last six matches have produced clean sheets, and there have been just two goalless draws between the two clubs in their thirty-seven encounters. Both teams have scored in four of the last six meetings between De Graafschap and Breda, with four of those six matches producing over 2.5 goals. Two of De Graafschap’s last three and four of Breda’s last six matches have also seen both teams score, which is another reason we expect goals for both teams on Friday.

A recent hat trick for Serrarens means he now top scores for De Graafschap with six league goals to his name, while te Vrede has impressed for Breda with nine, but could miss Friday’s match through injury. We’re confident that both teams will score on Friday, and have backed the final score to read 2-2. The visitors have a very good record against De Graafschap, but the hosts did win their last game convincingly and with neither side in the best of form heading into the game we’re expecting the teams to share the spoils.