Eerste Divisie Preview: Roda JC Hosts Oss in Crucial Promotion Playoff Push
In Round 24 of the Eerste Divisie, Roda JC will host TOP Oss. Home side Roda JC currently sits fifth in the league, pushing for a promotion playoff spot, while visiting TOP Oss is hovering near the bottom of the table, desperate for points to climb out of danger. This clash is crucial for both teams' respective season objectives.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This Eerste Divisie clash holds significant importance for both Roda JC and TOP Oss. Roda JC currently occupies the fifth position in the league table with 34 points, placing them squarely in contention for a promotion playoff spot. They aim to solidify this position or even vie for a higher ranking that would grant direct promotion to the Eredivisie. According to league regulations, the champion and runner-up of the Eerste Divisie are automatically promoted, while teams ranking from third to ninth qualify for the promotion playoffs. Against TOP Oss, Roda JC will be pushing for a crucial home victory to maintain or enhance their advantage in the promotion race. The visiting side, TOP Oss, sits at 17th place with 23 points. Although relegation from the Eerste Divisie has been suspended for non-reserve teams for an extended period, TOP Oss still urgently needs to secure points to avoid falling further behind in the standings and to boost team morale and performance.
Recent Form
Roda JC has shown solid form in their last five official matches. They drew 2-2 with Jong Ajax in the league on January 19, 2026, followed by a 3-1 victory over Jong Utrecht on December 22, 2025. In the KNVB Beker on December 17, 2025, they drew 1-1 with Go Ahead Eagles (winning on penalties). Prior to that, they secured a narrow 3-2 win against De Graafschap on December 12, and another 3-2 victory over Jong AZ Alkmaar on December 5. Overall, Roda JC's recent official form stands at three wins and two draws (W-W-D-W-D).
TOP Oss has shown mixed results in their last five official matches. They secured a commanding 4-0 victory over FC Emmen on January 18, 2026, but prior to that, they drew 0-0 with Vitesse on December 7, 2025. On November 29, they suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Almere City. However, they managed a 1-0 away win against Jong AZ Alkmaar on November 24, and played to a 0-0 draw with Waalwijk on November 21. TOP Oss's recent official form stands at two wins, two draws, and one loss (W-D-L-W-D), indicating inconsistent performances.
Key Players & Injury News
For Roda JC, striker Anthony van den Hurk has been a key offensive force, netting 10 goals this season. Midfielder Michael Breij has contributed 8 goals, and Jack Cooper-Love has scored 5 goals, with their performances directly impacting the match outcome. In terms of injuries, Roda JC faces some challenges: left-back Tim Köther and attacking midfielder Joshua Schwirten are both expected to be out until August 2026 due to knee injuries. Center-back Dario Van den Buijs, suffering from a calf injury, was expected to return by January 18, 2026, which means he might be available for this fixture. Additionally, midfielder Joshua Nisbet has been mentioned as potentially being affected by injury or form issues.
For TOP Oss, they rely heavily on the scoring ability of Mart Remans, who has scored 6 goals this season. Silvinho Hinoke and de Wit have each contributed 4 goals, and their performances are crucial for the team's offense. TOP Oss currently has a significant injury concern: center-back Thomas Cox is out with a broken leg, which will be a considerable blow to their defensive line. Several other players, including Fofin Turay, Kas De Wit, and Maxim Mariani, had injury records during 2024-2025, but there are no definitive recent updates regarding their status for January 2026.