PEC Zwolle vs NAC Breda Predictions

Zwolle sit one place above the drop zone and play host to second from bottom NAC Breda on Saturday. Three points separate the two clubs ahead of kick-off, but even a win for the visitors is unlikely to see the two clubs swap places because Breda’s goal difference is eight goals worse than that of their hosts.

Last weekend Zwolle were thrashed by Ajax in their own backyard, losing 4-1 to the Dutch giants. Veteran striker Huntelaar opened the scoring for the visitors in the twenty-second minute, and de Jong doubled their advantage ten minutes later. An own goal from Danish midfielder Schöne in the forty-fourth minute gave Zwolle hope of a comeback, but Ajax scored two further goals in the second half from Schöne and Tadić wrapped up all three points for the visitors.

Breda pulled off a surprise, but much needed, victory at home to high flying Vitesse on Sunday and lifted themselves off the bottom of the table in the process. There was certainly a hint of fortune about the hosts victory, as Vitesse had more of the ball, more corners, and more shots on target than their hosts. A tight and tense first half appeared to be ending goalless after Foor missed a forty-third minute penalty for Vitesse, but in stoppage time te Vrede converted a spot kick for the hosts. Linssen brought the teams back onto level terms in the seventy-second minute, but Verschueren sent the home fans wild in the eighty-fourth minute when the Belgian midfielder scored Breda’s winning goal.

When the two clubs last locked horns back in January, a solitary strike in the second minute from Mokhtar proved enough for Zwolle to claim all three points. The hosts were wasteful in front of goal and Breda created some decent chances of their own and failed to punish Zwolle when it counted. With 58% of the overall possession, fifteen shots, and eight corners, Zwolle dominated the majority of the match and, if their finishing had been more clinical, could have won the game the game by a much greater margin.

Neither side have been in good form of late, but with two wins, one draw, and three defeats its Breda who just edge the form guide. Zwolle have also won two of their last six, but four defeats during that period make it difficult to back the home side to win. Zwolle’s joint top scorers in the league this season are van Crooij and van Duinen with four goals apiece, while te Vrede leads the way for Breda with seven goals in this season’s Eredivisie.

We’re confident that both teams will score on Saturday and have backed the game to end in a 1-1 draw. Both teams have scored in three of the last five meetings between Zwolle and Breda, while Four of both clubs last six matches in league and cup have seen both teams score. Zwolle have only failed to score in one of their last six matches, while Breda have failed to score in two of their last six.