NAC out to sink Yellow Submarine

Having punched above their weight in the Netherlands to earn a European place, even the prospect of a play-off against the mighty Villarreal CF is not dampening spirits in Robert Maaskant's NAC Breda camp.

Battling performances
Eighth in the Eredivisie last season, NAC snatched a UEFA Europa League qualifying slot by overcoming Feyenoord and FC Groningen in the end-of-season play-offs. They have picked up where they left off this term, taking seven points from their first three games to earn joint top billing in the nascent Dutch table and, in Europe, ousting FC Gandzasar Kapan and KSP Polonia Warszawa to seal a date with Villarreal.

'Big guns'
"This feels like a major prize," Maaskant said after his side earned their shot at European competition, and he has been delighted to see NAC rise to the occasion in recent weeks. "Getting this far is already a huge success," he said. "We are just a small club surrounded by big guns, but it would be fantastic to reach the group stage. You always have a chance. We beat PSV Eindhoven and champions AZ Alkmaar last season so NAC are tough opponents for any team."

Warm evenings
The Breda-based club – champions for the only time in their history back in 1921 – are famous as the 'Avondje NAC' (Evening NAC) for the red-hot atmosphere that epitomises night fixtures at their Rat Verlegh Stadium, which is sure to be packed for Thursday's opener against Villarreal, UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists last term. They are also famous as boasting perhaps the longest official name of any European club: Nooit Ophouden Altijd Doorzetten Aangenaam Door Vermaak En Nuttig Door Ontspanning Combinatie Breda

'Never give up'
The first part of that name (Nooit Ophouden Altijd Doorzetten) means 'never give up, always persevere', and that attitude is certainly colouring experienced forward Anthony Lurling's attitude to the game ahead. "There are always surprises in Football," said the 32-year-old. "We have to ignore the hype and get a good result. Ninety per cent of the experts might think we don't stand a chance, but we have very different ideas about that."