Michael Statham offers his predictions and bet365 tips for week 23’s Eredivisie fixtures. Vitesse v Ajax is sure to be a great game, whilst there’s a huge relegation ‘six-pointer’ on Friday.
- By Michael Statham
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Here is the best of last weekend’s Eredivisie action plus the goals of the week! Make sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Friday 17th February
Roda JC v Go Ahead Eagles
Seventeenth meets fifteenth in a crunch match at the bottom of the table.
Should Go Ahead win here, it’ll be three on the bounce and an impressive turn around since Christmas when they looked like they might be cut adrift.
Roda have been improving recently, though. Two goals against Heracles looked good for what would have been only a third victory all season, but uncharacteristically Roda failed to see out the match.
I don’t want to predict Roda to draw yet another match this season, so I’ll back the home side to pinch all three points. I can see Go Ahead scoring though.
Michael’s prediction: 2-1
Tip: BTTS (click the link or the bet365 banners to find out more…)
Saturday 18th February
Twente v Heerenveen
Having both had marvellous campaigns this season so far, both sides here are now struggling for wins. Twente have only one win in six, whilst opponents Heerenveen are winless in five.
It’s difficult to point out why exactly. For Twente, their run is not as bad as indicated. They tend to be difficult to beat, but the goals seemed to have dried up in attack, Enes Ünal’s last goal was two months ago.
Whereas Heerenveen have perhaps seen the back of their extended purple patch. For me, Martin Ødegaard has to be dropped. He has not shown his reputed class so far in the Netherlands and doesn’t contribute much in the final third. Perhaps he could be played a little deeper once Stijn Schaars returns from injury, so he can be more effective, similar to what Daley Sinkgraven used to offer for Heerenveen.
Sam Larsson does return for the Frisians on Saturday following his ban, but Twente are long overdue a win and I feel as though the midfield battle will be won by the home side – Mokotjo and Klich will overpower the relatively lightweight Namli and Kobayashi.
Michael’s prediction: 2-1
Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Heracles v Excelsior
Heracles are mid-table for a reason – their inconsistency. Good wins are often followed by mediocre draws or defeats. But they are about right for their level in the table.
Excelsior are on a good run at the moment, and looked dangerous in their game with Twente last weekend, so I’ll tip them to take all three points from Almelo.
Michael’s prediction: 1-2
PSV v NEC
It’s been a good run of results for PSV. It’s the kind of imperious form we all expected from them at the start of the season, but that has failed to materialise and they cannot catch Feyenoord and Ajax now in my opinion.
They’ll have too much again for NEC here. The gap between the top three and the rest of the table is getting greater as the title chasers are focussed on not slipping up again.
Michael’s prediction: 4-0
Tip: PSV Asian handicap -1.5 goals.
Utrecht v PEC Zwolle
Utrecht gave it a go at PSV last time out and on another day the goal would have stood (which was incorrectly ruled out).
They’ll return to home comforts here I think, as their dominant home form and style of play is suffocating to all Eredivisie sides, which will not suit PEC, as they make far too many defensive errors and are quite weak defending aerially, which Sébastien Haller and co will be keen to exploit.
Michael’s prediction: 3-1
Tip: Over 2.5 goals
Sunday 19th February
Willem II v AZ
It was a true smash and grab victory for Willem II at Vitesse, to make up for the home defeat to Heracles the week before.
I think they’ll find it difficult against AZ, as they were much improved against Heerenveen, but it’s difficult to tell what effect the Lyon Europa League game will have on the players’ legs. It is a huge tie for the Alkmaar players.
For that reason, I’ll go for a draw. It would be a favourable result for Erwin van de Looi’s men.
Michael’s prediction: 1-1
Tip: BTTS
Sparta v Groningen
I remember when Sparta went to Groningen in September and could have won 0-3, but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. How times have changed for Sparta, as they have only won once in their last sixteen Eredivisie matches since the end of September.
Groningen at home must be winnable for Sparta, but they have not been able to see games out and I think Groningen will pinch an away win here.
Michael’s prediction: 1-2
Vitesse v Ajax
Game of the weekend? The home side will be out to prove a point after last week’s poor showing against Willem II and Ajax, equipped with ex-Vitesse talisman Bertrand Traoré, simply must win to keep touch with Feyenoord.
Ajax have got the job done in their last three wins against struggling teams in the league, so this will be a different atmosphere for them, and the last tricky away game with Utrecht was a close shave result (0-1).
Hakim Ziyech is on form, Traoré looks more focussed and Kasper Dolberg is in amongst the goals again. So the firepower may be too much for Vitesse. The Europa League shouldn’t take too much away from the excellent fitness of Peter Bosz’s men.
Michael’s prediction: 1-2
Tip: Traoré to net against his former team.
ADO Den Haag v Feyenoord
ADO have not been at Eredivisie level and the slippery slide down the table has now left them dumped at the bottom.
Alfons Groenendijk must feel pretty dejected after he couldn’t get a positive reaction from his players following his arrival at the club. That’s because his squad is not Eredivisie quality, and the players signed in January are largely journeymen who have failed elsewhere in the last few years.
League leaders Feyenoord will remain focussed to get the job done, remembering their crucial and tough upcoming fixtures. Games with PSV and Ajax sandwich meetings with sub-toppers Heerenveen and AZ as well as a Rotterdam derby.
Michael’s prediction: 1-3
Tip: Over 2.5 goals
Accumulator for all nine winners from Michael with a £10 bet returns: £6,024.20
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How have I done so far?
Week 1: 4 results
Week 2: 3 results, 1 correct score
Week 3: 4 results, 1 correct score
Week 4: 6 results, 1 correct score
Week 5: 6 results, 2 correct scores
Week 6: 4 results, 2 correct scores
Week 7: 3 results
Week 8: 7 results, 3 correct scores
Week 9: 4 results, 1 correct score
Week 10: 5 results, 2 correct scores
Week 11: 3 results
Week 12: 2 results, 1 correct score
Week 13: 4 results
Week 14: 6 results
Week 15: 4 results
Week 16: 5 results (versus writer Michael Bell)
Week 17: 2 results (versus writer James Rowe)
Week 18: 5 results (versus Aston Villa player Leandro Bacuna)
Week 19: 5 results
Week 20: 4 results, 1 correct score (versus Football Manager Head Researcher Jeroen Thijssen)
Week 21: 4 results (versus Eredivisie tipster Crypto)
Week 22: 6 results, 2 correct scores (versus commentator Richard Connelly)
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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.
