Every week in the 2018/19 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round. Last weekend, Michael correctly predicted 8/9 Eredivisie results in addition to 8/8 the weekend before. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, it’s Adam Sankowski who writes for website Piłka w Holandii – a Polish language outlet for Dutch football news.
Friday 15th March
Fortuna Sittard v Emmen
Michael’s prediction: After such a promising start to the campaign, the three promoted sides now make up three of the bottom five Eredivisie teams. This is where more experienced teams can fight their way out of trouble. Fortuna will be frustrated with 18 goals conceded in four successive defeats and also be relieved to be playing on home soil against a team which is more ‘on their level’. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Adam’s prediction: Fortuna need to gain some points to avoid the relegation zone. FC Emmen are also struggling to escape from the bottom of the table but have a satisfying draw against Heracles under their belt and are generally good when playing bottom-half teams. 1-1
Saturday 16th March
Heerenveen v De Graafschap
Michael’s prediction: Despite three wins in a row, Heerenveen have not kept a clean sheet at home all season, does that give lowly De Graafschap a chance? Heerenveen’s defensive record is a sore sight, but it does make for some extremely entertaining games! 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Adam’s prediction: Thanks to a quite simple schedule in recent weeks, Heerenveen are close to the play-off zone. Taking into account their chaotic defence, Lammers – Vlap (the hottest attacking duo of the last weeks), as well as El Jebli on the other side of the pitch and the lack of Jurjus for the visitors, I expect another high score. 4-2
NAC Breda v Utrecht
Michael’s prediction: NAC need wins now to have any chance of survival. I think that key factor could lead to them to be more open (even with a five-man defence) and Utrecht are lethal on the counter-attack. A defeat here may feel particularly painful to the Breda faithful. 0-3 | Tip: Utrecht -1.5 Asian handicap.
Adam’s prediction: Breda have gone eight consecutive games without a win and they have really fallen into a quagmire. I can’t see any beacon of hope. Utrecht, on the other hand, is unbeaten in the last five matches and this one should be the sixth. 1-3
Feyenoord v Willem II
Michael’s prediction: Feyenoord seldom have issues at home, but they have suffered defensive issues recently and new signing Cuco Martina is an example of someone who is signed for cover, not to be first-choice centre-back for a top three Eredivisie side. As for Willem II, I have been impressed with loan player Alexander Isak, who reminds me a bit of a Wout Weghorst or Christian Benteke type of striker. He gives De Tricolores a different outlet to what Fran Sol used to offer. It might be enough to earn them a surprise point. 1-1 | Tip: Willem II double chance.
Adam’s prediction: The development of Willem II, with so many young players, is very satisfying, and despite Feyenoord’s bumpy road this season, I don’t think they can repeat the draw from the first half of the season. 3-1
Heracles v Vitesse – WATCH LIVE ON PREMIER SPORTS 2
Michael’s prediction: Ten points from a possible twelve is a very good return for Vitesse and Leonid Slutsky spoke about the need for ‘bravery’ to attack against the better teams in the league. Heracles will make this a good game by creating plenty of opportunities – I hope there will be goals. Vitesse’s defenders have good qualities but I think Heracles will exploit the lack of pace in the centre of defence and expose the full backs’ weaknesses when they are caught out of position. 3-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Adam’s prediction: It’s difficult to predict Heracles’ outcomes this season, but they should be a tough opponent for the guests. I count on some magic from Martin Ødegaard, but as Vitesse have won only three away games this season, I’ll go for a draw. 1-1
Sunday 17th March
VVV-Venlo v PSV – WATCH LIVE ON PREMIER SPORTS 2
Michael’s prediction: Even though VVV picked up a win over Excelsior in their last home game, I still haven’t been convinced by their recent performances and I think the quality difference is sure to tell here. PSV won’t find this one easy, so I expect a narrow victory without conceding too many chances. 0-2 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Adam’s prediction: VVV haven’t won a single point against the top three this season, and PSV are unstoppable. Unnerstall is a great goalkeeper, but he’s not Superman. I’m afraid it won’t end up nice for Venlo. 1-3
AZ v Ajax
Michael’s prediction: I am certain that this’ll be a swashbuckling encounter yet again between AZ and Ajax. In recent history, AZ have found the games versus the top three very tricky. Following six wins without conceding to start the year, AZ haven’t been quite the same, with only one win in their last four. I think that’ll help Ajax earn yet another victory, considering they’ll have plenty of room to play football and AZ must be at their best to give Ajax a good game, which is within their potential but I think that the Alkmaar side’s back four may wobble too much given the wealth of talent possessed by the visitors. 1-3 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Adam’s prediction: With AZ fighting for the top three and Ajax still chasing PSV, this one is a tough call. AZ have lost only two home games this season, and Ajax, although they didn’t show much quality on Wednesday against Zwolle, seem like a very mature team. 1-1
Groningen v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: Considering ADO’s last three away matches have included draws with struggling NAC and De Graafschap plus a defeat at Emmen, it’s hard to see how they travel to in form Groningen and win. I predict it will be a game low on goals given that the hosts have kept three clean sheets in their last four. It’s easy to go for a home win but ADO may nick a point if El Khayati is on hand to help. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Adam’s prediction: One thing Groningen have taught us this season is that patience pays off. After the horrible beginning, the second half of the season has seen an explosion of talent from this young, promising team. 2-0
Excelsior v PEC Zwolle
Michael’s prediction: Excelsior have failed to score in their last three games but I think they will return to winning ways here. Jaap Stam’s managerial ‘honeymoon’ period is well over now and it’s still going to be a difficult task to keep PEC out of relegation trouble. This will be a low quality match and Excelsior will have to fight hard to make up for their deficiencies. 1-0 | Tip: Excelsior draw no bet.
Adam’s prediction: After Jaap Stam’s great debut and three consecutive wins, Zwolle hasn’t won the last five games – which is a bummer, since they have big potential. Excelsior have surprised us a few times this season, but I don’t think they should pose a threat to The Blauwvingers. 1-2
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 4 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus author Ferdi Delies [2 results])
Week 2: 5 results | 2/9 betting tips won (LOST versus writer Alex Dieker [6 results])
Week 3: 3 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus author Abdul Al Sayed [4 results])
Week 4: 2 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus IMG UK’s Eredivisie Highlights Show expert Jonathan Beck [5 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 5: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Notts County winger Enzio Boldewijn [3 results])
Week 6: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje writer Charlie Pritchard [5 results and 1 correct score])
Week 7: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Willem II graphic designer FootyGraphic [3 results])
Week 8: 6 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [7 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 9: 8 results and 4 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football Manager researcher Jeroen Thijssen [7 results and 1 correct score])
Week 10: 6 results and 3 correct scores | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus PSV-watcher and Eindhovens Dagblad journalist Rik Elfrink [4 results and 1 correct score])
Week 11: 5 results* and 1 correct score | 4/8* betting tips won (WON versus secretary of England’s eighth division Matt Jones [4* results]) *=Feyenoord v VVV cancelled
Week 12: 6 results | 4/9 betting tips won (WON versus Sky Sports journalist Joshua Hayward [4 results])
Week 13: 5 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Northampton Town’s Dutch striker Kevin van Veen [6 results and 1 correct score])
Week 14: 4 results | 7/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje.com editor Michael Bell [4 results])
Week 15: 5 results | 8/9 betting tips won (WON versus writer Alex Moretto)
Week 16: 5 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje.com writer James Rowe [4 results])
Week 17: 5 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus ZiggoSport editor Joep Smeets [4 results and 1 correct score])
Week 18: 3 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus FC Utrecht e-Sporter Danny Hazebroek)
Week 19: 4 results and 1 correct score | 2/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje.com writer Alex Royal [1 result])
Week 20: 5 results | 8/9 betting tips won (WON versus BN DeStem Voetbal journalist Maarten Elst [3 results])
Week 21: 4 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje.com editor Michael Bell [5 results])
Week 22: 6 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Dutch football tipster Crypto [4 results])
Week 23: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Football-Oranje.com writer Alex Royal [5 results])
Week 24: 8 results and 2 correct scores (+ Ajax v PEC Zwolle postponed) | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus FC Groningen clubwatcher Merijn Slagter [7 results and 1 correct score])
Week 25: 8 results and 2 correct scores | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus Eredivisie scout Xander Wilkinson [6 results and 1 correct score])
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Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.
