Michael Statham offers his predictions and bet365 tips for week 27’s Eredivisie fixtures. This weekend, Michael is taking on Eredivisie tipster Crypto for the second time. They will both predict the big game between Heerenveen and Feyenoord and the derby between Go Ahead and PEC Zwolle.

  • By Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
  • Follow Crypto on Twitter @Crypt0bet

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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 March

          Roda JC v Twente

Another morale boosting three points for Roda have changed a few opinions. Should the Kerkrade side continue to score goals and keep such a solid defence, they will have a fine finish to the season. However, take Go Ahead as an example of a team who seemingly were on the up since Christmas but now sit bottom again.

The relegation fight will be waged until the final day most likely and it’s extremely difficult to pick a bottom three, and in what order that will be.

My fellow writer James Rowe interviewed Twente full-back Jeroen van de Lely this week. I agree with the defender’s comments that his team are where they should be in the table now and Eredivisie rivals are now more aware of their threat. Because of that, Twente have struggled to win as many games, and a point here would be good for them on current form.

Michael’s prediction: 1-1

Crypto’s prediction: It was an interesting win for Roda at home against Groningen. Regarding the last games of Eredivise, we will mostly see this kind of result. 2nd home game in a row for Roda but this will not be as easy as Groningen game. Twente will grab some points here. 1-1

Tip: Double chance Twente. [all tips this week provided by Crypto!] (click the link or the bet365 banners to find out more…)

Saturday 18th March

           Groningen v Willem II

It’s difficult to be a mid-table team at this stage of the season. There is little to play for but enough games left that a disastrous run of results could still lead to relegation.

Groningen are currently suffering from this drop in form. They have only won once in 2017, star recent perfomer Bryan Linssen is suspended for three matches and there’s a lack of enthusiastic youth in the side to lift nonchalant, older players.

Opponents Willem II have the best defence outside of the top three, so don’t expect an exciting game of football. I think it’ll be won by a scrappy goal.

Michael’s prediction: 1-0

Crypto’s prediction: Three points were very important for Willem II against Zwolle. But on the road, it won’t be easy. I am expecting a low scoring and boring game. 1-1

Tips: Under 2.5 goals.

           NEC v Utrecht

I thought NEC were incredibly unlucky not to come away from The Hague with at least a point.

Even though Utrecht have been poor in the last couple of games, I can’t see them falling to another defeat here – NEC have been highly inconsistent.

Here’s a nice stat: Utrecht would be second in the Eredivisie if all games ended at half-time. Perhaps not so good if you support them but it’s at least promising that Erik Ten Hag’s men can be competitive in all their games.

Michael’s prediction: 1-1

Crypto’s prediction: Utrecht surprised me for the past two games (Heracles and ADO Den Haag). I was expecting one point at least. I can say that Nijmegen are the same level team as those two. I am on the away side here. 1-2

Tip: Draw no bet.

            PSV v Vitesse

Eight wins from nine ensures PSV are still on Ajax’s tails for the second Champions League berth. I think they’ll win again here but will find it a tough game against Vitesse – still high off their 5-0 win over Sparta and with a KNVB Cup final to come.

If the visitors can grab a goal, it will be left to PSV to continue their recent good form in front of goal. Post Christmas, the champions have averaged just below three goals a game, already more than they scored in the whole of the first half of the campaign. That is largely down to Siem de Jong’s fitness and Marco van Ginkel’s re-arrival.

Vitesse will be a threat though and should make this an interesting match.

Michael’s prediction: 2-1

Crypto’s prediction: Two weeks ago, Feyenoord and Ajax have lost some points in the title race, PSV won two games and picked six points. This is very important for the race and their concentration. Siem de Jong and Luuk de Jong brothers are leading the team.  Vitesse also have a good atmosphere and they are perfoming well.  If there will be a team to score against PSV on the road, that should be Vitesse. 3-1

Tip: BTTS

            Sparta v Heracles

Sparta must reproduce the same sort of display that helped to beat Feyenoord.

Beating Heracles would mean a sizeable cushion to the bottom three, and it’s possible given recent performances from the Almeloers.

It’s tricky to see Sparta keeping a clean sheet with Samuel Armenteros up front for the visitors, however Heracles have lost five of their last six away from home.

Michael’s prediction: 2-1

Crypto’s prediction: It is very hard to predict the winner here. It’s 55% Sparta and 45% Heracles for me. Sparta will try to avenge the bad performance and they need points. 2-1

Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Sunday 19th March

             Heerenveen v Feyenoord

Five points out a possible 24 makes grim reading for Jurgen Streppel. In all honesty, when he joined Heerenveen I mentioned my doubts for their new manager. Perhaps now his forwards, that were carrying the team, are off-form, he is beginning to get found out.

Still, a top eight finish is respectable, if not expected, for a team of Heerenveen’s quality.

On the flip side Feyenoord have accrued 33 points from their last 36 available. It’s wishful thinking, but if Feyenoord can pass this test, they hold a cushion going into De Klassieker with Ajax next weekend. From then on, in my view only Vitesse away looks another banana skin from the remaining fixtures, seeing as van Bronckhorst and co have struggled to be convincing away from home since Christmas.

The Frisians have tools to harm Feyenoord, but the league leaders have better ones.

Michael’s prediction: 2-3

Crypto’s prediction: It is really hard to understand why Heerenveen have won just two games from the past ten (2W-2D-6L).  They have good quality and talented players but something is wrong. And now, they will play Feyenoord. Feyenoord won 5-2 against Alkmaar, even though they have some players missing. I don’t think Heerenveen can stop the Rotterdammers on Sunday. 0-2

Tip: Feyenoord to score over 1.5 goals.

            Excelsior v Ajax

A lot of people wrote off Excelsior after other teams picked up their form around them. I still think they have the ability to get out of trouble entirely. The relegation battle in the Eredivisie looks one of the most interesting in many years and there will be many more twists and turns to come.

Ajax will find this game to their suitability given they can out-gun their opponents and defensively they should more than handle Excelsior’s neat and tidy style of football.

The Europa League tie with Copenhagen shouldn’t take toll in the game, but I expect the extra competition will affect Ajax’s title prospects should they progress.

Michael’s prediction: 0-2

Crypto’s prediction: Younes, Dolberg and Ziyech were the key players for the Twente game. Their passes, assists and finishing were outstanding. Excelsior won against Heerenveen with a four goal margin. It was a fantastic result for them but on Sunday Ajax will not give them any opportunity. 0-2

Tip: Ajax -1.5 handicap.

            Go Ahead Eagles v PEC Zwolle

I think Go Ahead will win this fierce IJsselderby. They have played a lot better in the past two months and can be technically very good.

PEC have relieved some of the pressure in terms of their table position, and that showed with their indifferent show against Willem II. The second half was much better from Ron Jans’s men, but is an indication that some of his players feel the job is done this season.

Go Ahead will have a much stronger will to win because of their own travail and to avenge the 3-1 defeat they suffered in the reverse fixture.

Michael’s prediction: 2-1

Crypto’s prediction: Another tough game for me to predict. Go Ahead are standing at the bottom and Zwolle’s performance is very poor this year. Both teams will try to win 3 points that they need. That’s why I am expecting many goals here. 2-2

Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

            AZ v ADO Den Haag

Alkmaar have only enjoyed three home wins all season so far in the league, which is appalling for a side aiming for fourth spot and a cup final.

I continue to have my doubts over John van den Brom’s potential with AZ. He hasn’t been helped though by various injuries and poor goalkeeping in previous months, but there is a lack of focus and consistency from his forwards that should be firing more goals. AZ lack an attacking midfielder or a winger with a bit more experience who can be relied upon, such as a Maarten Martens (of old).

Hence, it’s a good chance for ADO to claim more crucial points, but I think they’ve now enjoyed their honeymoon period thanks to their new manager, and now the fight really begins in the last eight games.

Michael’s prediction: 2-1

Crypto’s prediction: No words for Alkmaar from me. They conceded 11 goals against Lyon and another five goals against Feyenoord. They were knocked out from the Europa League and there is no hope for the league with Heerenveen and Twente pushing them for the Europa League Play-offs. Another hopeless team is Den Haag. But they need the points more than Alkmaar. I think they will stay on +1.5 handicap even they lose the game or grab some points. 1-0

Tip: ADO +1.5 handicap.

Accumulator for all nine winners from Michael with a £10 bet returns: £5600.90

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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)

Week 23: 7 results, 2 correct scores

Week 24: 6 results, 1 correct score (versus commentator Mark van Rijswijk)

Week 25: 2 results, 1 correct score (versus commentator Michiel Teeling)

Week 26: 5 results (versus writer Michael Bell)




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.