NEC Nijmegen vs Groningen prediction

THE FORECAST

NEC arrive on just 3 days' rest after a Europa League fixture and carry a massive injury list of 16 players plus a suspension, leaving the squad extremely thin and rotation near-certain; their form of DDDLD with zero clean sheets this season underlines their current fragility. Groningen are the fresher side with 7 days' rest, sitting 5 points better off in 7th with a stronger goals-for average of 2.4 and recent form of LWWDD. The windy, wet conditions (41.8 km/h wind, 17.7 mm rain) could disrupt both sides but should favour the more physically direct Groningen outfit against a depleted NEC eleven.