Eredivisie

Survival Race: Four Games to Stay Up

2 May 2025

For teams near the drop zone, one number matters: 34 points. That’s the unofficial safety mark in the Eredivisie — and every point now feels like double. Finishing 16th gives you one last chance in the play-offs. Below that? It’s over. With four matches to go, the tension is rising. Who can hold on?

Poor form, high stakes

This weekend’s game between NAC and PEC Zwolle is more than just a match — it’s a direct battle in the survival race. Both teams looked safe after a strong autumn, but wins have dried up. NAC haven’t won in 10 matches, PEC just once. The table shows how tight it’s become: 📊 Last 10 Eredivisie matches – 2024/25

Team	W	D	L	Pnts
Willem II	0	1	9	1
NAC Breda	0	7	3	7
Almere City FC	1	4	5	7
PEC Zwolle	1	5	4	8
RKC Waalwijk	2	2	6	8

Close to safety — but not there yet

NAC fans are desperate for a win, but all they’ve seen are draws: five straight home games have ended level — something that’s only happened three times before in Eredivisie history. PEC haven’t won away at a bottom-half team since December, but rarely lose those matches either.

Both clubs are edging toward the 34-point line — but even that isn’t a guarantee. Since three points per win were introduced in 1995, two teams have gone down with 34: N.E.C. in 2017 and Heracles in 2022.

Willem II chasing a late miracle

Willem II are still alive — just. They’re looking to copy Sparta’s escape act from 2022, when the Rotterdam side took 10 points from their last four games and survived. Coach Kristof Aelbrecht faces the same challenge. But even finishing 16th isn’t safe: none of the last nine clubs that entered the play-offs managed to stay up.

The fight to stay up is brutal — and every minute matters. Watch it live on your local broadcaster or follow it all in the Eredivisie app.