Buijs defends grabbing Shiloh 't Zand at NEC
The Fortuna Sittard coach explained he has a strong bond with the winger, who risked a time penalty by walking off too slowly after being substituted at NEC.
Eredivisie · Matchday 11 SC Heerenveen vs NEC Nijmegen Prediction, Match Preview & Stats
Our picks
Free picksModel predictions are published 48 hours before kick-off
To take in the latest form and rest days, the predictions for this match come out on . (If either team plays another match in between, they come out once that match is over.)
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Latest news
All newsSC HeerenveenNEC Nijmegen
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Meerveld dropped from Heerenveen midfield
Ringo Meerveld has lost his starting place in SC Heerenveen's midfield. Robin Veldman explained his choice for Levi Smans, pointing to the direct threat the latter brings going forward.
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Weather disrupts ADO Den Haag against Heerenveen
Players from both sides struggled in stormy conditions on Saturday evening. A Heerenveen goal kick from Bernt Klaverboer was blown almost straight back, and the home team nearly scored from the situation.
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Lebreton earns NEC a point against Groningen
NEC drew at home to FC Groningen on Sunday after coming from behind, with Noé Lebreton named Man of the Match by the Nijmegen crowd.
6 more news items
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NEC fight back against Groningen to claim a point
Brynjólfur Andersen Willumsson scored twice to put FC Groningen in control in the first half, but Clement Bischoff and Noé Lebreton struck after the break as NEC salvaged a draw in the Eredivisie.
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Trenskow double helps Heerenveen beat ADO Den Haag
SC Heerenveen won 3-2 away at ADO Den Haag, with Jakob Trenskow scoring twice for the visitors.
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Schreuder explains NEC's conceded goals in Groningen draw
NEC Nijmegen drew with FC Groningen on Sunday after conceding twice in a poor first half, and the coach says the reasons for the goals were simple.
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Groningen let two-goal lead slip at NEC
FC Groningen drew at NEC after leading 0-2 at half-time. Coach Dick Lukkien was clearly disappointed with the result, though he enjoyed his side's play.
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NEC fight back from two down to draw with Groningen
NEC came from 0-2 behind to draw 2-2 with FC Groningen in the tenth round of the Eredivisie. Brynjólfur Willumsson scored twice for Groningen before Clement Bischoff and Noé Lebreton levelled it after the break.
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NEC fight back from two down to draw with Groningen
NEC Nijmegen recovered a 0-2 deficit against FC Groningen in De Goffert. Both sides created chances after the comeback, but neither could find a winner.
Form guide
SC Heerenveen
- W 3-2 at ADO Den Haag (A) Eredivisie · 24 Oct
- W 4-0 vs Excelsior (H) Eredivisie · 16 Oct
- L 0-2 at PSV Eindhoven (A) Eredivisie · 9 Oct
- W 4-0 at Sparta Rotterdam (A) Eredivisie · 19 Sep
- D 0-0 vs Telstar (H) Eredivisie · 13 Sep
NEC Nijmegen
- D 2-2 vs FC Groningen (H) Eredivisie · 25 Oct
- W 4-2 at Dinamo Zagreb (A) Europa League · 22 Oct
- D 2-2 vs Fortuna Sittard (H) Eredivisie · 18 Oct
- D 1-1 vs Levski Sofia (H) Europa League · 15 Oct
- D 1-1 at Ajax (A) Eredivisie · 10 Oct
Last five competitive matches before kick-off, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.
Attack and defence ratings
SC HeerenveenNEC Nijmegen
0 to 100 against this season's Eredivisie clubs (100 = best). The rating is our model's long-run strength before this match: it uses the last three years and counts recent matches most, so a few results do not move it at once. Under each rating: this season's actual goals per match.
Head-to-head
5SC Heerenveen wins
9draws
8NEC Nijmegen wins
22 meetings since 2010, results after 90 minutes.
- 22 Mar 2026 · Eredivisie NEC Nijmegen 2-2 SC Heerenveen
- 21 Sep 2025 · Eredivisie SC Heerenveen 3-2 NEC Nijmegen
- 27 Apr 2025 · Eredivisie SC Heerenveen 1-0 NEC Nijmegen
- 19 Oct 2024 · Eredivisie NEC Nijmegen 3-0 SC Heerenveen
- 10 Mar 2024 · Eredivisie NEC Nijmegen 2-0 SC Heerenveen
Eredivisie so far
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | SC Heerenveen | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 18:13 | +5 | 15 |
| 12 | NEC Nijmegen | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 17:18 | -1 | 11 |
Positions in our table of 18 clubs, before kick-off. Full table
Match facts
- Competition
- Eredivisie, Matchday 11
- Kick-off
- Venue
- Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen
- Since last match
- SC Heerenveen: 2 days (KNVB Cup)
NEC Nijmegen: 6 days (Eredivisie) - Next match
- SC Heerenveen: 7 days (Eredivisie) later
NEC Nijmegen: 5 days (Europa League) later
Questions and answers
What time is SC Heerenveen vs NEC Nijmegen and where is it played?
SC Heerenveen vs NEC Nijmegen kicks off at 17:45 UK time (17:45 UTC) on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen. It is an Eredivisie match (Matchday 11).
When will the OptimaGoal prediction for SC Heerenveen vs NEC Nijmegen be published?
Our picks and their reasons are published 48 hours before kick-off at the earliest, from 17:45 UTC on Thursday 29 October 2026, once both teams have played their previous match. The result percentages follow for everyone 2 hours before kick-off, at 15:45 UTC on Saturday 31 October 2026; every other percentage is for members until the match is over.
What is the recent form of SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen?
SC Heerenveen have 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in their last 5 matches in all competitions, and have won their last 2. NEC Nijmegen have 1 win, 4 draws and 0 defeats in their last 5 matches in all competitions, and are unbeaten in 5.
What is the head-to-head record between SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen?
SC Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen have met 22 times in our records since 2010: SC Heerenveen won 5, NEC Nijmegen won 8 and 9 ended level. Last meeting: 2026-03-22, NEC Nijmegen 2-2 SC Heerenveen.
Who is the referee for SC Heerenveen vs NEC Nijmegen?
The referee is Sander van der Eijk. In the last 50 matches we have on record, Sander van der Eijk has averaged 3.3 yellow cards per match.
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