Every week in the 2020/21 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round.
- by Michael Statham
- Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
Saturday, 9th January
ADO Den Haag v RKC Waalwijk
Having failed to beat relegation rivals Emmen and PEC Zwolle before the Winter break, ADO resume their season with games against RKC and VVV. I can’t see how Ruud Brood’s side stay up because one of their rivals, Waalwijk, look so much better this season, even if they come into this having lost their last three. I think the visitors will walk away with at least a point. 1-1 | Tip: RKC double chance.
FC Emmen v FC Twente
Emmen are another club who looked doomed already, but they are, for me, more likely to turn it around. It would take wins in games like this one to rescue them to safety, but Twente are an overall stronger outfit these days. They do have complete off-days though, so Emmen will want to be in their faces from the first whistle. Twente have only kept two clean sheets this season; perhaps Emmen will fancy their chances. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
PEC Zwolle v AZ Alkmaar
PEC Zwolle tend to keep games tight, but AZ will have too much technical ability, movement and energy back from a break. 1-3 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Heracles Almelo v Vitesse Arnhem – Delayed airing on Premier Sports 2
Heracles’ young team seems to be finding some rhythm. Manager Frank Wormuth isn’t afraid to make sweeping changes to his team if he’s not happy with what he sees. So it’ll be interesting to see how Wormuth copes with fellow German manager Thomas Letsch’s set up of Vitesse. Their 5-3-2 should stifle the threat of Sylvester van der Water and Delano Burgzorg in wide areas, but it’s all about who can support the front two of Lois Openda and Oussama Darfalou. Against AZ, the front two were isolated to begin with when AZ pushed their midfield really high up the pitch. If Heracles are brave and push high up too, then they’ll create opportunities to score and prevent the visitors from creating as much. 2-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
FC Utrecht v FC Groningen
Utrecht are the superior outfit (in my view), but lie four places and nine points below their first opponents since the Winter break. Adrian Dalmau’s reintroduction since his injury has yielded two important goals, and I really think René Hake should now give him the chance to start a run of games. Groningen will be buoyed going into this because of their strong defence and Utrecht’s failure to turn one point into three on numerous occasions in recent months. It’s going to be a close game. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Sunday, 10th December
Sparta Rotterdam v Feyenoord – LIVE on Premier Sports 2
Sparta host Rotterdam rivals Feyenoord in a fixture with great potential. Sparta have many players in form at the moment, including Abdou Harruoi and Deroy Duarte outfield, plus Maduka Okoye in goal. Feyenoord of course have not been great to watch this season, but have only suffered defeat once so far. Sparta are playing with such confidence and Feyenoord don’t tend to play too well away from De Kuip. I initially thought about a Sparta win here, but now my gut feeling says the opposite – Bryan Linssen might finally be back amongst the goals too after his hat-trick. 1-2 | Tip: Both teams to score.
Heerenveen v Fortuna Sittard
After a flying start, Heerenveen are now winless in seven. This has surprised me because it seemed that they had the attacking quality to blow teams away; that hasn’t proven to be the case. Now a vital January is here with winnable games against Fortuna, RKC, VVV and a cup tie with Emmen. This is arguably the toughest of those four to win given Fortuna’s recent revival. 1-0 | Tip: Heerenveen draw no bet.
VVV-Venlo v Willem II
Two teams who hope not to become marooned in trouble with a hectic January ahead. VVV need to feed Georgios Giakoumakis if they want to continue outscoring their opposition because they’re losing their ‘tough to beat’ reputation this season and are thus conceding too many goals. Remarkably, Willem II find themselves in the same bracket as VVV, and actually need the points to get out of trouble. I think the point with Ajax in December will breathe new life into the Tilburgers. 0-2 | Tip: Willem II team goals +1.5
Ajax v PSV – LIVE on Premier Sports 2
The Eredivisie’s first matchweek since the Winter break surprisingly yields a match between this year’s two biggest title contenders. PSV are developing fast under Roger Schmidt and look good money for the Eredivisie. I think they’re gaining a lot of momentum and have been rotating their squad to great effect. Sometimes it means Schmidt’s side are a little lacklustre, but they do manage to win games. On the other hand, Ajax seem to be going backwards. The Champions Leaugue defeat to Liverpool has changed their fortunes; admittedly without a few first-team players, they haven’t been the same. Ajax undoubtedly will be fired up for the big occasion (sadly without home fans), and PSV will know the importance of a win in Amsterdam. 0-1 | Tip: PSV double chance.
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 6/8 results (including 2 correct scores) + 3/8 betting tips
Week 2: 5/9 results (including 1 correct score) + 6/9 (1 void) betting tips
Week 3: 3/9 results + 6/9 betting tips
Week 4: 2/8 results + 5/8 betting tips
Week 5: 2/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 5/9 (1 void) betting tips
Week 6: 1/9 results + 3/9 betting tips
Week 7: 6/9 results + 9/9 betting tips!
Week 8: 5/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 5/9 betting tips
Week 9: 5/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 4/9 (1 void) betting tips
Week 10: 7/9 results (and 3 correct scores) + 7/9 betting tips
Week 11: 5/9 results (and 2 correct scores) + 8/9 betting tips
Week 12: 2/9 results + 4/9 betting tips
Week 13: 4/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 6/9 betting tips
Week 14: 3/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 7/9 betting tips
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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.
