Exciting times in Waalwijk! With carnival just around the corner, RKC Waalwijk seems to have found its way back up. Halfway through the season, staying in the Eredivisie still seemed like a distant dream, but in recent weeks, the team has been on an impressive run. Victories are piling up, and belief in survival is growing. On top of that, RKC is playing attractive and dynamic football.
Victories Are Piling Up
The first match after the winter break was a narrow defeat against Ajax (2-1), but after a draw against Sparta Rotterdam, RKC Waalwijk has now won its last three Eredivisie matches in a row. Since the turn of the year, only Ajax has collected more points in the Eredivisie (12) than RKC (10).
Remarkably, in these three recent victories, RKC has won as many matches as in the previous 32 league games combined (three wins, ten draws, and 19 losses). The team now has the chance to secure four consecutive victories for the first time since 2005—back then, RKC even managed to win five in a row.
From Relegation Worries to Hope for Survival
RKC Waalwijk’s resurgence is all the more remarkable considering their poor results in the first half of the season. During the winter break, Henk Fraser’s team was at the bottom of the table, with just one win and only seven points from 17 matches.
History shows that survival from such a position is rare. In the past 50 years, only two of the 13 clubs that also had seven points after 17 games managed to avoid relegation. One of those two? RKC Waalwijk in the 1998/99 season. The Brabanters have already proven once before that a great escape is possible.
Individual Brilliance on Display
It’s not just the results that are encouraging—RKC Waalwijk’s style of play also gives reason for optimism. In 2025, only PSV has registered more shots in the Eredivisie (88) than RKC (87), while the Waalwijk side is the league’s top-scoring team this calendar year with 13 goals. Individually, several players have stood out and played a key role in RKC’s recent surge.
Oskar Zawada has been the Eredivisie’s most prolific shooter this year. The RKC Waalwijk striker has already taken 20 shots on target in 2025, more than any other player. He is closely followed by his teammate Mohamed Ihattaren and Luuk de Jong, both with 18 attempts. Yassin Oukili, also representing RKC, is well within the top five with 17 shots. Below is the full list of the players with the most shots on target this year.
| Player | Team | Shot |
|---|---|---|
|
Oskar Zawada |
RKC Waalwijk |
20 |
|
Luuk de Jong |
PSV |
18 |
|
Mohamed Ihattaren |
RKC Waalwijk |
18 |
|
Yassin Oukili |
RKC Waalwijk |
17 |
|
Tobias Lauritsen |
Sparta Rotterdam |
17 |
Margaret and Ihattaren's Creativity Stands Out
RKC Waalwijk isn't just excelling in shots, but also in chance creation. Richonell Margaret has already created 14 chances in 2025, making him one of the most creative players in the Eredivisie. Mohamed Ihattaren is right behind him with 13 created chances, once again proving his value to RKC. Below is the full ranking of players with the most created chances in 2025.
| Player | Team | Created chances |
|---|---|---|
|
Mats Köhlert |
sc Heerenveen |
18 |
|
Richonell Margaret |
RKC Waalwijk |
14 |
|
Mohamed Ihattaren |
RKC Waalwijk |
13 |
|
Mats Seuntjens |
FC Groningen |
12 |
|
Michel Vlap |
FC Twente |
12 |
Tough Challenge Against FC Twente
This weekend, RKC Waalwijk faces a difficult test against FC Twente. The Tukkers are not in top form, having failed to win any of their last three league matches (two draws, one loss). However, despite their struggles in the Eredivisie, they have found success in the UEFA Europa League, securing impressive victories over Malmö FF (2-3), Besiktas (1-0), and Bodø/Glimt (2-1).
Earlier this season, the clash between FC Twente and RKC Waalwijk ended in a 2-2 draw—a remarkable result for RKC, as they had just endured a run of nine consecutive league defeats. Can RKC continue their resurgence and make FC Twente their next victim? Or will FC Twente rediscover their form in the Eredivisie?
Kickoff: Sunday at 14:30 – FC Twente vs. RKC Waalwijk.
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