De Treffers vs NEC Nijmegen

Schreuder's decision to make 11 substitutions at half-time was less a tactical masterstroke and more a necessity born of a squad split between fitness groups. The disjointed second-half performance suggested the new XI had barely trained together, and it took a set-piece — Mor's delivery and Lebreton's finish — to break through a side that had held firm for 81 minutes.

Noé Lebreton (NEC): The French midfielder was the match-saver. Introduced at half-time, he scored the only NEC goal with a well-timed header and looked sharper than most of his teammates in the final third.

Bas Brussaard (De Treffers): The right-winger scored the opener with a clinical finish from a rebound and was a constant outlet on the counter in the first half. His goal was a reminder that De Treffers, managed by former Vitesse and Ajax midfielder Theo Janssen, carry genuine threat.

Emre Mor (NEC): On trial with NEC, the 28-year-old Turk played the entire second half and registered an assist from a corner. His dribbling offered glimpses of the talent that once made him one of Europe's most sought-after teenagers, though match sharpness will take time.

The on-page stats will show NEC dominating possession and territory, but the key numbers are the ones you do not see: zero NEC goals from open play and only one sustained period of pressure that produced a goal — from a corner. De Treffers, by contrast, created the best chance of the first half and scored it. The 1-1 scoreline flattered NEC's control without reflecting their lack of incision.

This was purely a fitness exercise for NEC, who began pre-season training only two weeks ago. Schreuder admitted afterwards that his squad had been through "heavy training sessions" in the days leading up to the match, and Chery noted the team must "be ready quickly for the Champions League qualifiers." NEC's next friendly is yet to be announced, but their competitive season begins with a Champions League qualifying tie later in July.

For De Treffers, managed by Theo Janssen, this was a statement performance against full-time opposition. They face another pre-season fixture next week as they build towards the 2026-27 Tweede Divisie campaign.

Friendlies are about fitness, not scorelines, but NEC's lack of creativity against an amateur side — 81 minutes before a set-piece goal — will concern Schreuder. The second-half XI, featuring trialists and youngsters, looked disjointed. The positives: Lebreton's sharpness, Mor's assist, and a clean bill of health. The work ahead is considerable, especially with Champions League football on the horizon.

"Anderhalve week al, de laatste twee dagen was het pittig. Dat zag je, dat geeft niet. Ik ben benieuwd hoe ik ze morgen terugzie" ("A week and a half already, the last two days were tough. You could see that, it doesn't matter. I'm curious to see how they look tomorrow"), Schreuder told Voetbal International.

"We moeten er al snel staan in de voorronde van de Champions League. Iedereen weet het. Ik vind het wel lekker eigenlijk" ("We have to be ready quickly for the Champions League qualifiers. Everyone knows it. I actually like it"), Chery added.