FC Volendam vs NEC Nijmegen Predictions

It was far from straightforward, but NEC secured a vital 3-2 victory over Helmond Sport in Nijmegen last week to move within touching distance of the Eerste Divisie Play-offs, and Ron De Groot’s side will feel that they can now salvage their indifferent campaign over the remaining games of the regular season. They head to Kras Stadion on Good Friday in search of their third league win on the bounce and they have a favourite’s chance against a Volendam outfit who have won just one of their last 12 outings.

NEC’s 3-2 success over second bottom Helmond Sport at Goffertstadion last week was as unconvincing as their season overall – but the Nijmegen outfit are at least finding results and gaining some momentum at a crucial time under new boss Ron De Groot.

It’s now six points from six since Jack De Gier’s dismissal following a 1-2 triumph against Jong PSV on match day 33, and NEC are now just four points adrift of the top nine with four matches left to play.

Importantly though, the presence of Jong PSV and Jong Ajax in the top half means that 11^th is likely to be good enough to secure a Play-off place and NEC are just two points behind Cambuur who currently hold that berth.

With fixtures against RKC, MVV and champions elect Twente to come, NEC face no easy task from here on in, but they cannot be ruled out if they can take care of Volendam this Friday.

They did just that in November’s reverse fixture with a rampant 5-1 win in Nijmegen (one of the few times that NEC have blown away one of their rivals this term) and will feel that Palingboeren are ripe for the picking again on match day 35.

Aside from a brief riposte at the end of 2018 when Hans De Koning replaced the outgoing Misha Salden, Volendam have endured a torrid campaign overall and they have dropped to 16^th in recent weeks after winning just one of their last 12 league outings.

A 0-3 hammering at home to Jong PSV last week was their fifth defeat from seven and they are unlikely to receive a warm reception when they turn out at Kras Stadion again this week.

Volendam have lost four on the spin now in front of their own supporters after prior reversals against Cambuur (0-1), Go Ahead Eagles (0-1) and Dordrecht (3-4) and confidence in the Palingboeren camp appears to have hit rock bottom.

Their league position is unlikely to get any worse as they are seven points ahead of 17^th placed Dordrecht with four games remaining, but we don’t envisage results improving for Volendam any time soon.

NEC have not been a team to trust too often this term and their aforementioned win at Jong PSV a fortnight ago was their first in nine on the road, but we can only see the points going one way here.

The visitors are on an upward curve since the appointment of De Groot and with plenty to play for we’re forecasting an away win alongside a 1-3 correct score.