NEC Nijmegen vs FC Utrecht Prediction 11.02.2026 | Eredivisie

NEC Nijmegen have emerged as one of the Eredivisie’s most pleasant surprises this season, firmly inserting themselves into the race for Champions League and Europa League qualification. Sitting 3rd with 41 points on the board, they currently lead 4th-placed Ajax by two points, underlining how competitive the upper end of the table has become.

Under the astute guidance of Dick Schreuder, NEC have developed into the league’s most potent attacking outfit outside the traditional “Big Three.” Their tally of an eye-catching 56 goals from 21 league matches speaks volumes about their attacking intent, with only runaway leaders PSV boasting greater firepower.

Momentum is also firmly on their side. NEC have not ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline since early November, putting together an impressive unbeaten run in the league that includes recent hard-fought draws against top opposition. Their most recent outing showcased both their resilience and the clinical finishing of their Japanese forward line.

However, Schreuder will be forced into at least one change for Wednesday’s league clash, as 21-year-old midfielder Sami Ouaissa is suspended after seeing red in their previous outing. In addition, goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, veteran defender Bram Nuytinck, and attacker Bryan Linssen (head injury) remain sidelined, slightly thinning an otherwise confident and well-drilled squad.

Meanwhile, FC Utrecht have struggled to find real momentum this season and will need a significant uptick in consistency if they are to climb back toward the European playoff places. As things stand, Ron Jans’ side occupy 13th place, having mustered a fairly modest return of 24 points so far, leaving them several points adrift of the top eight.

The Domstedelingen have shown a clear tendency to share the spoils recently, but their January form has been underwhelming, with defensive lapses costing them points in crucial moments. In fact, Utrecht have found wins hard to come by since late last year, highlighting a worrying drop-off in results since their early-season highlights.

Away from Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht’s shortcomings have been even more evident. They have managed only a handful of victories on the road this campaign, often struggling to contain high-pressing teams like Nijmegen. Their previous encounter this season saw Utrecht edge a narrow win, but they face a much more confident NEC side this time around.

To compound matters, Utrecht will be without influential striker Sebastien Haller, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on international duty. Victor Jensen and David Min also remain sidelined and unavailable, further limiting Jans’ attacking options at a crucial stage of the campaign.