Every week in the 2019/20 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 week, it’s Abdul Al Sayed, a popular, Arabic-language author from Kuwait and a big Feyenoord fan.
Friday, 29th November
Heerenveen v Vitesse Arnhem
Michael’s prediction: I think this’ll be an interesting game to kick off the match-week. Vitesse were second in the league but now enter this on the back of four straight defeats. Heerenveen coaches will be pleased that Jens Odgaard and Chidera Ejuke now look reliable attacking threats, with eleven goals between them so far this season. Heerenveen are playing with confidence and that could be difference. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Abdul’s prediction: A tough match between two teams fighting for a spot in the Europa League. 1-2
Saturday, 30th November
Willem II v Sparta Rotterdam – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: I like Sparta and think they’ll play well in Tilburg to face up to this decent-looking Willem II side. The home side’s Vangelis Pavlidis is really impressing me, having netted for a seventh and eighth time this season last weekend, but Willem II will be gutted not to have taken home three points from the Hague. I see a share of the points. 1-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Abdul’s prediction: Both teams have been performing well so far. It’s a very difficult match to predict. Willem II might get the best of it with the home advantage. 2-0
Fortuna Sittard v FC Groningen
Michael’s prediction: Since losing to Ajax, Groningen have gone seven unbeaten in all competitions. They’re climbing up the table and I think they’ll continue to do so into the top seven over the coming months. Amadou Ciss will be suspended for Fortuna with his red card, but they will be with Mark Diemers, their creator and often best player. He’s important to create opportunities and the home fans will be pinning their hopes on him to carve open their defensively rigid visitors. 0-1 | Tip: Groningen draw no bet.
Abdul’s prediction: Fortuna are fighting to avoid the relegation zone, while Groningen want a spot in the Europa League. 1-1
Heracles Almelo v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: On paper, an easy home victory given how industrious the home side are. ADO will soon need points to avoid a scrap to jump out of the bottom three. I have a feeling that ADO will recruit a few players in January to escape any relegation fears but they won’t be arriving for some weeks yet… 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Abdul’s prediction: While Heracles are having a good season, ADO Den Haag have been struggling in the relegation zone. 2-0
Sunday, 1st December
FC Twente v Ajax – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: Twente always seem to offer Ajax a good game in De Grolsch Veste. Ajax are far better than their opponents but Twente could keep it tight and use adrenalin from the home crowd to keep them in the game when the going gets tough. Hakim Ziyech is always welcomed back by Twente fans after his time in Enschede…I see him making the difference and Twente firing a blank. 0-2 | Tip: Ajax -1.5 Asian handicap.
Abdul’s prediction: Twente are still recovering after promoting to the Eredivisie this season. Ajax meanwhile are leading the table comfortably. 1-4
FC Utrecht v RKC Waalwijk
Michael’s prediction: A nice way to return to winning ways for Utrecht. RKC have done better in recent performances to convince us that they may yet make a stunning comeback to remain in the Eredivisie. However, it’s tricky away matches like this one where they don’t have the defensive capabilities over 90 minutes to keep out their stronger opponents. 3-0 | Tip: Utrecht -1.5 Asian handicap.
Abdul’s prediction: A great season for Utrecht so far, with the team in the fourth place, while RKC are at the bottom of the table with 5 points, and they have only managed one win in 14 matches. 3-0
Feyenoord v PEC Zwolle – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Michael’s prediction: I think had this game been in Zwolle, Feyenoord will have faced far more questions. At home, they can control the game whilst PEC attempt to soak and counter-attack. The visitors don’t have enough match-winners, for me, to get a result in De Kuip. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.
Abdul’s prediction: Both are not having a good season. Feyenoord are doing relatively better with Advocaat. 3-1
AZ Akmaar v VVV-Venlo
Michael’s prediction: AZ swept aside Utrecht last weekend but they didn’t impress in their fortunate 2-2 draw with Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League. Before their visit of Manchester United, AZ will need to pinch themselves and pick up a win over VVV. Perhaps they were overconfident of a result against the Serbian outfit? There’s no room for complacency though if AZ want to finish in the top two this season. I think Venlo will be hard to beat given last weekend’s win without sacked manager Robert Maaskant. 1-0 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Abdul’s prediction: A remarkable season for AZ with many amazing young talents to watch, being in the 2nd place, 6 points behind Ajax, and great performances in the Europa League. There’s nothing special to follow in Venlo with the team in the relegation zone. 4-0
FC Emmen v PSV
Michael’s prediction: Emmen have been plugging away with results in recent weeks; yet, despite PSV’s really poor form, I don’t think they’ll be good enough to get even a point at home against the side from Eindhoven. 0-2 | Tip: PSV win.
Abdul’s prediction: PSV struggled lately with key players being injured, but started recovering after the injured players returned. 1-3
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 2 results + 5/9 correct betting tips | Lost versus Derby County goalkeeper Kelle Roos [6 results]
Week 2: 5 results + 3/9 betting tips | Lost versus Football Manager head researcher Jeroen Thijssen [5 results & 1 correct score]
Week 3: 4 results & 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus ED journalist and PSV-watcher Rik Elfrink [4 results]
Week 4: **2 results & 1 correct score + 4/6 betting tips | Lost versus ED journalist Chris Ottens [**3 results] **reduced schedule of only 6 matches
Week 5: 4 results + 6/9 betting tips | Won versus commentator Phil Blacker [3 results & 1 correct score]
Week 6: 6 results & 1 correct score + 7/9 betting tips | Lost versus EiF founder & journalist Marc Gerschwind [8 results & 2 correct scores]
Week 7: 5 results & 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus commentator Jonathan Beck [4 results]
Week 8: 5 results + 5/9 betting tips | Lost versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [6 results & 1 correct score]
Week 9: 6 results & 1 correct score + 4/9 betting tips | Won versus “Eredivisie Out of Context’s” Yorin Schrader [5 results]
Week 10: 2 results + 2/9 betting tips | Lost versus Eredivisie scout Xander Wilkinson [3 results]
Week 11: 5 results and 1 correct score + 6/9 betting tips | Lost versus VVV-Venlo midfielder Lee Cattermole [6 results and 2 correct scores]
Week 12: 5 results and 1 correct score + 5/9 betting tips | Won versus football graphic designer Joeri Gosens [4 results and 1 correct score]
Week 13: 6 results + 6/9 betting tips | Won versus betting tipster MegaFootyTips [5 results and 1 correct score]
Week 14:
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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.
