ERIK SAYS :

KO: 19-11-2005 19:30

NAC BREDA

NAC is currently on the 10th place with 15 points out of 11 games. Last game NAC drew away to Roda JC 3-3 thanks to an equalizer in injury time by Pierre van Hooijdonk out of a free kick.

He finally seems to get back on track scoring twice against Roda JC and once against RKC Waalwijk the week before that. Pierre can find the net again and that's very good news for NAC.

FC UTRECHT

FC Utrecht takes the 8th place in the rankings with also 15 points out of 11 games. The last match Utrecht drew at home against ADO Den Haag 1-1 and didn't play well.

Utrecht seems to struggle a bit this year with a lot of unnecessary draws and losses, including the 1-2 loss at home against VVV Venlo in the Gatorade Cup.

This really was a big blow for the team because they were entitled as the "Dutch Cupfighters", winning the Cup in 2003 and 2004 and reaching the final in 2002.

Last 5 games

NAC Breda
05/11/2005 Roda JC - NAC Breda 3-3
29/10/2005 RKC Waalwijk - NAC Breda 4-1
26/10/2005 NEC - NAC Breda 2-2 (Cup)
22/10/2005 NAC Breda - FC Twente 1-1
15/10/2005 NAC Breda - Heerenveen 0-3

FC Utrecht
06/11/2005 FC Utrecht - ADO Den Haag 1-1
30/10/2005 FC Utrecht - RBC Roosendaal 4-1
26/10/2005 FC Utrecht - VVV Venlo 1-2 (Cup)
23/10/2005 SC Heerenveen - FC Utrecht 1-1
16/10/2005 Roda JC - FC Utrecht 2-1

Previous confrontations
06/02/2005 FC Utrecht - NAC Breda 2-0
26/01/2005 NAC Breda - FC Utrecht 2-1 (Cup)
14/08/2004 NAC Breda - FC Utrecht 3-2
22/02/2004 FC Utrecht - NAC Breda 1-2
04/10/2003 NAC Breda - FC Utrecht 1-2
10/05/2003 NAC Breda - FC Utrecht 2-0
03/11/2002 FC Utrecht - NAC Breda 1-0

Team news/injuries

Mendes da Silva and Jenner are back for NAC Breda. Both players are expected to play on saturday and this will be an important boost to the team. Zonneveld remains injured.

Vonlanthen and Vidmar both played away games with their national teams (Switzerland and Australia) and especially Vidmar had a long trip back from down under with a full match, extra time and penalty shoot in his legs. Vonlanthen didn't play so apart from the trip he will be fully fit.

For FC Utrecht Robin Nelisse is out (hamstring).

Probable line-ups
NAC Breda: Van Zwam, Vidmar (?), Zwaanswijk, Penders, Elshot, Van Gessel, Slot, Mendes da Silva, Jenner, Van Hooijdonk, Vonlanthen

FC Utrecht: Terol, Cornelisse, Di Tommaso, Keller, Braafheid, Tiendalli, de Jong, Somers, Douglas, Van den Bergh, Maachi

The Verdict

NAC Breda - Utrecht always is a very entertaining game to watch with two attacking teams. Never has either team won with a couple of goals difference so I think this will be again a close game.

Fc Utrecht aren't the best travellers this season with 5 points out of 5 games. NAC has the home advantage, along with the return of Mendes and Jenner, the returned scoring power of Van Hooijdonk and I think these ingredients will be good enough for the home win here.

After the draw against FC Twente and loss against Heerenveen, the three points are much needed in Breda.

The Pick :

NAC Breda to win

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Breda 55% - Draw 25% - Utrecht 20%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Odds can be found around evens at most bookies for the home win.

I'll take NAC BREDA with medium stakes.