Prediction: Excelsior vs NAC Breda

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 77/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet

With one foot back in the Eredivisie after a dominant first-leg victory, NAC Breda will look to complete the job against fellow playoff finalists SBV Excelsior on Sunday.

The Eerste Divisie side capitalized on Excelsior’s reduction to nine men on Tuesday evening, establishing a commanding four-goal lead to take into the decisive match in Rotterdam.

Excelsior

Excelsior’s meltdown in the first leg, eventually resulting in a 6-2 defeat, saw attacking midfielder Lance Duijvestijn earn a straight red card in the 38th minute, with left-back Arthur Zagre following him for an early shower after picking up his second yellow of the match in the 72nd.

At the time of Zagre’s departure from the pitch, the score stood at 3-2 with Aime Ogba, Dominik Janosek and Jan van den Bergh scoring for NAC, while Duijvenstijn and Troy Parrott got on the scoresheet at the other end. That scoreline, had it remained in force at the final whistle, would certainly given Excelsior a proper chance to overturn the deficit in the rematch, but Martin Koscelnik soon increased NAC’s lead, before Elias Mar Omarsson struck twice to turn that chance into mission impossible.

Marinus Dijkhuizen’s side now need a proper miracle to help them retain their top-flight status. They surely won’t have given up, though, and will be hoping the home crowd at the Stadion Woudestein creates a boiling atmosphere to help their team climb the vast mountain looming ahead.

Team News

The moment of madness from Duijvenstijn in the first leg, when he used his hand to clear the ball off the goal-line, means the man who has six goals and five assists to his name since the start of the year will have to miss this clash. The same, of course, goes for Zagre.

Duijvenstijn’s absence means Parrott will have to shoulder the responsibility of being the main attacking threat, and whether he proves lethal in front of the opposition goal or not will surely play a crucial role.

NAC Breda

Having clinched the final spot in this season’s promotion-relegation playoffs by finishing eighth in the Eerste Divisie on goal difference, NAC Breda have since embarked on an impressive run of results.

The former Dutch national champions beat both Roda JC and Emmen over two legs to secure their place in the final, and now they’re obviously on the right track to complete the mission and play in the Eredivisie next season.

Head coach Jean-Paul van Gastel will therefore be stressing the significance of avoiding any signs of complacency to his men ahead of the second leg, lest their huge advantage comes into danger of being lost – an unacceptable scenario for Van Gasel’s last game at the club, as he prepares to hand the reins over to Carl Hoefkens afterwards.

Team News

Van Gastel has no real reason to change anything from the first leg. His team played well throughout, and each name on the teamsheet from that game should be there again for this one.

It means Janosek, with 21 goal involvements this season, along with first-leg goalscorer Omgba, should play in support to striker Sigurd Haugen in attack, with captain Cuco Martina marshaling the back line.

Conclusion

Excelsior will surely give their best to make amends for what happened in the first leg, and with neither side known for their ability to defend properly, goals are expected at both ends. Excelsior will likely claim a narrow victory, but NAC Breda should be the happier bunch when the final whistle sounds.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 77/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet