Michael Statham offers his predictions and bet365 tips for week 29’s Eredivisie fixtures. In a special mid-week round, Michael is taking on fellow Football-Oranje writer James Rowe. See who tips Feyenoord to drop points again…
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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.
Tuesday 4th April
Excelsior v Utrecht
This is a tough game for Excelsior, against a very solid Utrecht side who are looking to pull away in fourth place. However, the Rotterdammers must find points from somewhere if they are to avoid the bottom three.
I can’t see Erik Ten Hag’s men getting beaten here, they’re better and more focussed since the mini wobble they suffered last month.
Michael’s prediction: 1-1
James’s prediction: I think that Excelsior a due a home win. They had a good result at home to Ajax and they are unbeaten in their last 4 league games. I believe that they will stay up. FC Utrecht are on form however with 4 wins in their last 6 games and they look to be closing in on cementing 4th place in the Eredivisie this season. 2-1
Tip: Both Teams To Score (click the link or the bet365 banners to find out more…)
Heerenveen v Sparta
The epic slide down the table for Heerenveen could be about to get a lot worse. The once wide gap between eighth and those below has diminished.
Should Heerenveen fall into the bottom half, I really think Jurgen Streppel’s position as manager must be put into question. He’s failed to stop the rot and not looked like changing any tactics to make his team any tighter in games.
The loss of Stijn Schaars is evident, but nothing was done in January nor formation-wise to rectify that.
Sparta are desperate for points in their fight to stay up, and won’t come to the north to sit back.
Michael’s prediction: 2-1
James’s prediction: I do not believe that Sparta Rotterdam are completely out of the woods even though they have won 3 of their last 6 games and Heerenveen are still in the hunt for a European play-off place, although they have lost 4 of their last 6 games I believe they will have a point to prove in front of their own fans in the Abe Lenstra Stadium and that they will win. 3-1
Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Wednesday 5th April
Heracles v Vitesse
I stated on my previous predictions article that Heracles are strong at home. They play with confidence and the 4-1 success over Heerenveen will only have heightened their mood.
Vitesse would have liked to have won the Gelderse derby more comfortably on Sunday, but must be happy to claim another three points. Henk Fraser has admirably improved that aspect of his team, they’re able to see out games much better now.
It’s tough to predict which side comes out on top in this one, hence I’ll plump for a draw.
Michael’s prediction: 2-2
James’s prediction: I am going for a Vitesse win in Almelo. Heracles had a very timely and some what surprisingly convincing 4-1 win at home to Heerenveen at the weekend. They sit comfortably in mid table. I believe that Vitesse will be buoyed by the Gelderse derby win and that they will have too much for Heracles. 0-2
Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Groningen v NEC
It’s now ten without a win for Groningen, who owe plaudits to goalkeeper Sergio Padt thanks to his clean sheet against AZ on Saturday and his efforts throughout the season.
There’s a lot of work still for ex-NEC manager Ernest Faber at Groningen. He’ll have a busy summer ahead as the club need to start showing progression. Director Hans Nijland is ambitious and seeing as the club have one of the top seven budgets in the Eredivisie, Faber has some pressure to produce.
NEC have less of these worries and simply remaining in the top flight is their aim for this campaign. I can see a drab match here, but a moment of quality from Groningen to earn all three points.
Michael’s prediction: 1-0
James’s prediction: NEC Nijmegen are struggling with only one win in 6 games and I believe that they’re too inconsistent to win away. Their heads will be down too after losing the Gelderse deby. Groningen have drawn 4 of their last 6 games and I am tipping them to win a timely home game in the Euroborg. 2-0
Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Ajax v AZ
Hopefully for Ajax fans their intense win over Feyenoord won’t have taken too much wind from their sails. I suspect in the short term they will keep up their marvellous form, but I don’t think it’ll last for another six weeks if they are to continue competing on domestic and European fronts.
There’ll be goals in this one seeing as AZ have only kept two Eredivisie clean sheets away from home all season. They also like to attack, which not too long ago was a brave, but effective, way of conducting business in Amsterdam.
Michael’s prediction: 3-1
James’s prediction: I am going for a convincing home win for Ajax against an erratic AZ Alkmaar. AZ have drawn 4 of their last 6 games and Ajax will look to build on their victory in de Klassieker and they will show even more hunger in the hunt to topple Feyenoord. 3-1
Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Willem II v ADO Den Haag
In order to beat the hosts, ADO are going to have to match Willem II in terms of effort and formation. Then hope they can reproduce the same clinical finishing they displayed versus Roda.
This is because Willem II don’t give away many chances, let alone goals. They will work hard to keep up their impressive home form of only two defeats in nine in Tilburg.
ADO have been inconsistent in their fight to stay up, but I don’t see their frail defence being too troubled by the home side.
Michael’s prediction: 0-1
James’s prediction: The clock is ticking for ADO and they must also improve on the road to be in with a shout of staying up. Willem II have lost 2 of their last 4 leagues games and I think that they will not get beat at home against ADO Den Haag. ADO will be full of confidence after their resounding 4-1 home win against Roda JC at the weekend. I am going for a draw here. 2-2
Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Feyenoord v Go Ahead Eagles
The pressure will now have been heaped on Feyenoord to win this game. Luckily for the hosts, they have the best home record in the division to rely on for confidence.
Go Ahead, full of belief from their win at Twente, aren’t great defensively, and I can see a nervy but crucial win for Feyenoord.
Michael’s prediction: 2-0
James’s prediction: Call me mad but I believe that Go Ahead Eagles will get a draw in De Kuip. Feyenoord will be rocked by the loss in Amsterdam and Go Ahead Eagles won against Feyenoord at home in Deventer in the reverse fixture. They also have a new manager in Robert Maaskant and will have one final push on the home straight to avoid relegation. Go Ahead Eagles got a great result at the weekend winning in Enschede, and I think this result will surprise a few people. 1-1
Thursday 6th April
Roda JC v PEC Zwolle
After their demolition at the hands of ADO, Roda simply have to win this match before it becomes an even more difficult task to avoid the bottom three.
Following this encounter, they have to play AZ, Utrecht and Vitesse away from home, with home ties with Sparta and Willem II sandwiched in between.
PEC can relax as their season comfortably comes to an end. The players won’t have to necessarily perform for any expecting fans nor their manager, who is leaving in May. Roda must take advantage, but can they?
Michael’s prediction: 1-1
James’s prediction: I think that Roda JC will notch up another home win here to still be in the mix of avoiding relegation in the last weeks of the season, even though they are coming on the back of a drubbing at the hands of ADO Den Haag. PEC Zwolle appear to be going through the motions with only 2 wins from 6 games. The derby win against Go Ahead Eagles will have given them confidence but they are clear of any relegation trouble. 2-1
Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Twente v PSV
Twente weren’t the only ones robbed by an offside decision on Sunday, I was also pretty cheesed off with the linesman denying Twente and myself a 2-2 draw with Go Ahead.
That said, I’m not sure if the hosts deserved a point from that game as they were pretty disappointing.
It seems the side from Enschede are losing their intensity as the season reaches its close, thanks to no European football allowed at the club.
I think Twente will raise their game for the visit of PSV – who have slipped under the radar in terms of the title race.
Don’t forget that PSV have won all but one of their 11 games since Christmas. The form seems too little, too late, but five points is surmountable and a win over Ajax this month would also give them pole position on second place.
The stakes are high for PSV, and another win is on its way.
Michael’s prediction: 1-2
James’s prediction: PSV have been very consistent of late not just at home but also away from home too – winning 5 of their last 6 games. FC Twente have won 2 of their last 4 home games and their defeat at home to Go Ahead Eagles last time out was a surprise. I believe that they will provide a stern test for PSV in Enschede. But I still see PSV winning. 1-3
Tip: BTTS.
Accumulator for all nine winners from Michael with a £10 bet returns: £9,095.60
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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)
Week 27: 4 results (versus Eredivisie tipster Crypto)
Week 28: 5 results, 2 correct scores (versus Eredivisie tipster TipsterFromHolland)
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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.
