Every week in the 2018/19 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, it’s fellow Football-Oranje writer Charlie Pritchard, who predicts games against Michael such as the ‘topper’ between PSV and Ajax.

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Charlie on Twitter @CPritchard96

Friday 21st September

Heracles v De Graafschap

Michael’s prediction: I’m surprised how good a start Heracles have enjoyed. A 5-0 defeat to Willem II aside, a total of 12 goals have been scored in wins over ADO, AZ and Heerenveen and they even picked up a draw at Ajax. Surely then they’ll have too much for De Graafschap, whose manager Henk de Jong branded his team as an ‘Eerste Divisie side playing in the Eredivisie’ last week. Not the best way of raising confidence for the tough months ahead. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Charlie’s prediction: I am going to go with a Heracles 3-1 victory here. The hosts have a leaky defensive record and knowing them, may well concede to lowly De Graafschap. Nonetheless, with the prolific Kristoffer Peterson (six goals and one assist so far), Heracles should be able to get past a stubborn De Graafschap outfit, and hit their stride once the first goal goes in to compensate for their shaky backline. Over 2.5 goals is also tasty with 26 goals in Heracles’ first five matches.3-1

Saturday 22nd September

Fortuna Sittard v Willem II

Michael’s prediction: Should Fortuna go on to sign ex-PSV winger Balazs Dzsudzsak and he refinds his Eredivisie form of old, I wouldn’t blame any Fortuna supporter, young or old, for having heart palpitations. Willem II fought back from two goals down for a draw at home to Excelsior – but overall it was a below par performance. This game is difficult to call but I’m sure Fortuna will want to avoid defeat on this occasion against a good opposition to start to build some momentum. 1-1 | Tip: Draw.

Charlie’s prediction: Fortuna Sittard will be in a buoyant mood following their 3-2 away win at Breda on Matchday Five, but Willem II also came back extremely well to draw with Excelsior. I’m going for a 1-1 draw in this game because both sides have very similar goals scored and against records. It should be a tight game. Fran Sol to score anytime is a good shout considering his bright start to the season.1-1

VVV-Venlo v NAC Breda

Michael’s prediction: I think you have to fancy VVV to make it difficult for NAC in their home stadium. I’m not sure if NAC will have the attacking players to get through a tight Venlo defence, plus defensive woes mean they always have to struggle to score more than they concede. 2-1 | Tip: VVV to score two or more

Charlie’s prediction: VVV Venlo should win this game. They have a sturdy defence to build from and are taking on opponents who are at a low ebb. This game probably won’t be the most exciting of Matchday Six, but both teams have their own points to prove individually. I will go for a 1-0 Venlo win and under 2.5 goals should be a good bet for this week. 1-0

Excelsior v Heerenveen

Michael’s prediction: Heerenveen’s defence is all over the place, which has been quite frankly amateur. Individual mistakes, a lack of a defensive midfielder and lack of prevention tactics from Jan Olde Riekerink (yes, it is that obvious) have lead to no clean sheet and only one win in five. However, this type of game suits Heerenveen because, whilst Excelsior have some nice attacking players, Heerenveen can defend one-on-one situations well on a small pitch. I think we’ll see some decent football from both teams and Heerenveen having that extra bit of quality to win. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Charlie’s prediction: This is a game that Heerenveen really should win, but life is never easy as one of their fans due to their inconsistency and extremely shaky defence. Without a win in four, I see the visitors just shading this match, but Excelsior will not surrender easily at home, and should profit from Heerenveen’s woeful defensive record. 3-1 away victory is my tip for this match. 1-3

Vitesse v ADO Den Haag

Michael’s prediction: Vitesse will look to celebrate this year’s Airborne match with another win. ADO meanwhile will want a reaction to losing 7-0 last weekend. This could be a closer match than we suspect but I would still back the Arnhem side to win in the end. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Charlie’s prediction: Vitesse have a decent defensive record if you forgive them for shipping four in the one match against Ajax and although I expect Den Haag to get one goal, I am going for a 2-1 victory for the hosts. 2-1

Sunday 23rd September

Feyenoord v Utrecht

Michael’s prediction: An early Sunday kick-off should give a good match in De Kuip. Utrecht are one of the league’s better sides but have struggled so far and this will be Dick Advocaat’s first match in the Utrecht dug-out. I find this match hard to call but I think it could be another frustrating afternoon for the visitors who will look ahead to Thursday’s cup match for a return to form. 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Charlie’s prediction: I am going for a Feyenoord 2-0 victory. Despite conceding eight goals so far this season, I don’t see Utrecht posing much of a threat going forward and I think Advocaat will focus on shoring up his defence before going for the throat at De Kuip. Feyenoord will make De Kuip the 12th man again and will win this game narrowly but connivingly I think to record a second clean sheet of the season. 2-0

Groningen v AZ

Michael’s prediction: Take a risk with this match. I think there’ll be a winner and no draw. AZ can have off days and Groningen will be keen to get their stuttering season going, but the visitors are still by far the better team on paper. Guus Til should enjoy himself playing against a side with a fairly anonymous midfield. Groningen manager Danny Buijs may start to feel the pressure. 1-3 | Tip: Both score no draw.

Charlie’s prediction: I will go for a 3-1 AZ away win here. Groningen will put up a fight at home in a desperate plea to win a game at home and at least score a goal, but the quality of AZ and their defence should shine through with an overall confident display. There should be goals in this and AZ are surely favourites to run out victors. 1-3

Emmen v PEC Zwolle

Michael’s prediction: There are decent odds for either side to win or draw here because this is hard to predict. Emmen have had a lucky few results to begin the campaign whilst PEC have been the opposite. I think it’s time the tables turned and PEC enjoy a good day on the road. 0-1 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.

Charlie’s prediction: Both sides are somewhat struggling going forward but this could be an entertaining game nonetheless. I am going to go for a 2-2 draw as PEC grow more desperate to record a second win of the season. It may not be easy to beat Emmen, as they will be looking to record their first home win of the campaign on the board, so this could be an unlikely thriller on Sunday afternoon. 2-2

PSV v Ajax

Michael’s prediction: One of the best matches of the Dutch football calendar awaits. PSV’s slim advantage at the top could already be decisive for this game, as avoiding defeat in front of their home fans could be important. This early in the season, I wouldn’t have thought that both sides’ Champions League games would have an impact. I think I have to pick a winner here though, as I don’t believe either side are the type to settle for a point. I’m going to back Ajax on this occasion as they have the quality players to get the goals but also the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Nico Tagliafico are in the form of their lives at the moment and will fancy themselves against Luuk de Jong and Hirving Lozano respectively. 1-2 | Tip: Both score no draw.

Charlie’s prediction: I may be boring here but I am going for a 1-1 draw this Sunday. Both sides will have played Champions League football this week and despite PSV having a tougher side of the bargain having to face Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night, Ajax will have to perform exceptionally well to win in Eindhoven. PSV may be tired and Ajax too, resulting in a cagey affair for the most part, with each side’s quality surely shining through at crucial moments in the game. 1-1

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])




Michael Statham (800 Posts)

Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.