SC Heerenveen vs NEC Nijmegen
Match details. Eredivisie, Regular Season - 11. Kick-off is Sat 31 Oct, 18:45 Lagos time. It is played at Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen. The referee is Sander van der Eijk.
What's at stake. SC Heerenveen are 7th on 15 points after 10 games, 3 points behind Fortuna Sittard, level on points with Groningen. A win would take them level on points with Fortuna Sittard. NEC Nijmegen are 12th on 11 points after 10 games, 1 point behind Utrecht, level on points with Excelsior. A win would take them above Utrecht.
Team news. SC Heerenveen are without L. Smans (inactive), L. Smans (inactive). NEC Nijmegen are without B. Nuytinck (ankle injury), P. Sandler (injury), D. Tadic (calf injury), E. Mor (groin injury), Y. Moslih (inactive), B. Nuytinck (ankle injury).
Form. SC Heerenveen have won four, drawn three and lost three of their last ten, 1.5 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W W L W D. In this competition SC Heerenveen have gone W W L W D L. NEC Nijmegen have won two, drawn five and lost three of their last ten, 1.1 points a game. Their last five, newest first: D D D D L. In this competition NEC Nijmegen have gone D D D D L D.
The numbers. SC Heerenveen score 1.4 and concede one a game in their last five at home, with three clean sheets and two games without a goal. SC Heerenveen average 16.5 shots (5.8 on target), 5.2 corners and 0.8 cards a game, with 54% of the ball. NEC Nijmegen score 1.7 and concede 1.8 a game over their last ten, with no clean sheets. NEC Nijmegen average 14.0 shots (4.1 on target), 6.0 corners and 1.4 cards a game, with 58% of the ball.
Head to head. In the last ten meetings SC Heerenveen have won three, drawn four and lost three. Four of the ten went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in five. In the last four, SC Heerenveen won two, one was drawn and NEC Nijmegen won one. The last time they met, on 22 Mar 2026, it finished SC Heerenveen 2-2 NEC Nijmegen: SC Heerenveen had 11 shots to 22, 46% of the ball.
Where it pulls both ways. On goals, their goals for and against point to an open game; their records put over 2.5 goals at 60%; six of the last ten meetings went under 2.5.
The case against. NEC Nijmegen's record still gives them 30% to win. Not everything agrees on goals: six of the last ten meetings went under 2.5.
The read. SC Heerenveen to win. An open game. Their goals for and against make SC Heerenveen the likelier winners; SC Heerenveen are the stronger side on form and the table. Their goals for and against point to an open game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 60%.
The bets. No bet yet: nothing I'd back is priced yet. Leave: NEC Nijmegen Over 0.5 goals (SC Heerenveen's own games don't back it (2 of 5)); Under 4.5 Goals (no unders on an open read); Under 5.5 Goals (no unders on an open read). Predicted score: SC Heerenveen 2-1 NEC Nijmegen (10% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and an open game).