Highlighted: N.E.C. and Feyenoord face crucial clash for second place
With the title now settled, the Eredivisie turns its attention to the battles still very much up for grabs. Feyenoord's draw last weekend officially handed PSV the league title, but in same time made the race for second place even more exciting. With just a one-point lead, Feyenoord face direct rivals N.E.C. Nijmegen this weekend. A crucial clash in the hunt for the second ticket granting direct access to the UEFA Champions League.
For N.E.C. Nijmegen, this is already a season to savour. With five matches remaining, the Nijmegen side have matched their best ever finishes in the Eredivisie. Only in 1971/72 did N.E.C. win as many matches as this season, fifteen. The current points tally has likewise only been reached in that same season and in 2023/24.
In the weeks ahead, Dick Schreuder's men will be looking to match their best ever final league position as well. That record still belongs to the 2002/03 season, when N.E.C. Nijmegen finished fifth.
Best seasons for N.E.C. at the top level
| Season | Matches | Points | Goal difference | Final standings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2025/26 |
29 |
53 |
+24 |
? |
|
2023/24 |
34 |
53 |
+17 |
6 |
|
1971/72 |
34 |
53 |
0 |
7 |
|
2002/03 |
34 |
51 |
+1 |
5 |
|
2007/08 |
34 |
49 |
-1 |
8 |
That strong points tally is partly built on performances in top fixtures. N.E.C. Nijmegen beat PSV Eindhoven last month and earlier this season also got the better of Feyenoord Rotterdam at De Kuip.
For Feyenoord, those big matches have been a problem. The Rotterdam side have not beaten a single team currently in the top six this season, with three draws and five defeats to show for it. N.E.C. fared considerably better in those same fixtures. Four wins, three draws, and one defeat gave the Nijmegen side fifteen points. Only PSV did better, with nineteen.
Feyenoord have been struggling in recent weeks. Three of their last four league matches ended in draws, with just one win. There are still reasons for optimism in Rotterdam, though. Feyenoord are difficult to beat and have been defensively solid. In the Klassieker against Ajax three weeks ago, they conceded just five shots, two on target, and 0.21 Expected Goals Against (xGA). Across the last four matchdays, no team has conceded fewer shots on target or a lower xGA than Robin van Persie's side.
Can Feyenoord neutralise the attacking threat from Nijmegen? Or will N.E.C. beat the Rotterdam side twice in a single season for the first time since 2008/09? With a direct UEFA Champions League place and the millions that come with it on the line, this is a high-stakes top-of-the-table clash.
