Feyenoord vs NEC Nijmegen Prediction & Betting Tips - KNVB beker

Prediction published on 19/04/2024, 12:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 21/04/2024 at 04:00 in Football Predictions

The grand final in the KNVB Cup will play out this weekend, with Feyenoord taking on NEC at De Kuip on Sunday evening. With nine points separating them from league leaders PSV and just four games left to play in the Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup represents Feyenoord’s final opportunity to earn a piece of silverware this season. They have looked good in the previous rounds, beating Groningen 2-1 in the semi-final, which followed wins over Utrecht, PSV, and AZ Alkmaar earlier in the competition. With those results, the Pride of South are returning to the final of this tournament for the first time since the 2019-20 season when the final was postponed. The last time they lifted the title was in 2017-18, when they beat AZ 3-0. The defending league champions are carrying excellent momentum into this contest, currently unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions, including seven wins and two draws. The last defeat they suffered was in the Europa League back in February. Feyenoord are unbeaten in their last six matches against this opponent and are the clear favourites in this one. 

Meanwhile, NEC have continued their excellent year-on-year progression and are enjoying one of their best seasons in the top flight. Since earning promotion to the top flight in 2020-21, they have ended each of the last two seasons in the bottom half of the league standings, but this term, they are in sixth place with 47 points, eight behind fourth-placed AZ. NEC were held to a 1-1 draw in regulation time of the semi-final by Cambuur but found the winner in extra time thanks to Kodai Sano’s 99th-minute goal. That followed wins over GVVV, Go Ahead Eagles, and ADO Den Haag in the preceding rounds. They played out a 2-2 draw against PEC Zwolle in the league last week, which extended their current unbeaten run to four matches, including two wins and two draws. Still, they have had a much easier route to the final and will now have to face a side that they have not got the best of since 2020.