Dis Sunday, all eye dey Goffertstadion as NEC and Feyenoord go clash for matchday 30. Na serious matter wey go decide who go enter Champions League directly. PSV don already win league, but dis two teams still dey fight for second place.
Feyenoord dey second place with 53 points, NEC dey third with 53 points too. Na just one point separate dem for table. If NEC win, dem go overtake Feyenoord. If Feyenoord win, dem go hold second place tight.
Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie dey under pressure. Him team draw 0-0 with FC Volendam last weekend. Fans dey vex. Dem dey chant “shame on you” after match. Van Persie talk say VAR no help dem. Him complain say striker Ayase Ueda no dey get protection from referees.
Midfielder Luciano Valente talk say fans anger dey understandable. “We are second, with not exactly great play,” him tell ESPN. “That emotion is logical and clear.”
Feyenoord injury list long. Luciano Valente get thigh problem. Ahmedhodzic and Hadj Moussa no sure for play. In-beom Hwang, Gijs Smal, and Sem Steijn dey injured. Ayase Ueda, wey score 22 goals dis season, go lead attack. Raheem Sterling and Goncalo Borges go support am.
For NEC side, dem dey in form. Dem no lose for five matches. Dem beat Excelsior 2-0 last weekend. Bryan Linssen score one goal. Basar Onal score di oda one.
Linssen, 35, just sign new two-year contract with NEC. Him talk say World Cup go fall during him holiday. “I reckon the World Cup falls during my holiday, so that’s not ideal,” him tell ESPN.
NEC coach Dick Schreuder get almost full squad. Defender Deveron Fonville get small injury but fit play. Freek Entius na only confirmed absentee. Linssen dey top scorer for NEC with 10 goals and eight assists.
Dis match go repeat reverse fixture wey NEC win 4-2. If NEC win again, na first time since 2008-09 dem go do league double over Feyenoord.
Feyenoord away form no too good. Dem win just two of dia last 12 away matches. Dem no score for three of dia last five league trips.
NEC home form no consistent. Dem win just one of dia last four home league matches. But dia attack dey strong. Dem score at least two goals for each of dia last five games.
Ajax dey watch dis match closely. Dem dey fourth, six points behind Feyenoord. Ajax play Heracles Almelo on Saturday. If Feyenoord lose and Ajax win, gap go reduce.
Feyenoord get five matches remain. After NEC, dem go face Groningen, Fortuna Sittard, AZ Alkmaar, and PEC Zwolle. Champions League qualification dey for line.
Van Persie season don full wahala. Captaincy issue with Quinten Timber and Sem Steijn. Poor run for Eredivisie and Europa League. Technical director Dennis te Kloese bring Dick Advocaat as advisor.
Former striker Harry van der Laan talk for Rijnmond sports programme say Feyenoord lack confidence. “You can see from every angle that this is a team lacking in confidence. There is visible fear.”
Analyst Ali Boussaboun talk say problem na creativity. “The biggest problem is the lack of creativity. In the final third of the pitch, you don’t have players who can easily get past their man.”
Sterling performance dey worry fans. Him no score since join Feyenoord as free agent. Him wait for first goal reach six matches.
NEC possible lineup: Crettaz; Fonville, Sandler, Dasa; Onal, Sano, Nejasmic, Ouaissa; Lebreton, Chery; Linssen.
Feyenoord possible lineup: Wellenreuther; Bos, Watanabe, Kraaijeveld, Deijl; Targhalline, Valente; Sterling, Moder, Borges; Ueda.
Match go start Sunday afternoon. Both teams need win. NEC want overtake. Feyenoord want hold position. Na pure tension.
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