KERKRADE, Netherlands (Interstat) — Roda JC hosts RKC Waalwijk Res. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in an Eredivisie matchup that pits a struggling home side against a reserve team that has not played a competitive match in more than four years.

The game at Parkstad Limburg Stadion marks the first of two consecutive meetings between the clubs; they will face off again Friday, May 1, in Waalwijk.

Roda JC enters the fixture on the heels of a 4-1 loss to the senior RKC Waalwijk side on Sept. 19, 2025. That defeat extended a difficult stretch for the Kerkrade club, which has been fighting to escape the bottom of the Eredivisie table. Manager Edwin de Kock has stressed the need for defensive improvement after conceding four goals in that match.

RKC Waalwijk Res., meanwhile, has not played since Oct. 18, 2021, when it recorded a 1-0 victory over MVV Res. The extended hiatus raises questions about match fitness and squad cohesion. Reserve-team matches in the Netherlands are often sporadic, but the absence of any competitive action for more than four years is rare even for developmental sides.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-1 victory for the visiting reserve team, which would add pressure on Roda JC in front of its home supporters. The projection suggests the visitors’ younger, less-experienced roster may still hold an edge in speed and tactical discipline.

Roda JC will be without injured midfielder Jeroen van der Heijden, who is sidelined with a hamstring strain. Forward Benjamin Nivard is expected to lead the attack, supported by winger Mitchell van de Sande.

RKC Waalwijk Res. has not announced its starting XI, but the reserve side typically draws from players with limited first-team minutes and academy prospects. The club’s senior team, currently mid-table in the Eredivisie, has loaned several young players to lower divisions, which could affect the reserve squad’s depth.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time. The match will be the only Eredivisie fixture scheduled for Tuesday, drawing attention from league observers watching both clubs’ form heading into the final month of the season.