After the international break, the Eredivisie returns with round ten of the 2013/14 season. Here is a preview of the action.
- By Leo Walker
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The round will get under way on Saturday when Feyenoord, strangers to playing on any day other than a Sunday, will visit the home of the Go Ahead Eagles. Feyenoord will be looking to seek revenge in Deventer as the last time the two sides met was 2 years ago when Feyenoord suffered a shock 2-1 defeat in the 3rd round of the Dutch Cup. Ronald Koemans side recorded their first away victory of the season at Vitesse in round 9 and will be looking to restart the season where they left off. A win for Feyenoord and they will put pressure on their rivals as they will lead the Eredivisie table for the first time this season. Opening the round at the same time will be a bottom half table clash when RKC Waalwijk, who currently reside in the bottom three, entertain Roda JC. Erwin Koeman is under pressure as RKC have just one win to their name this season, however suffered late heartbreak in the previous round when defeated by PSV. Their visitors on Saturday have only gone one better this season with two victories to their name, however have recorded three back to back draws, including two games which finished in 3-3 scorelines.
NAC Breda have risen up the league into 10th following an unbeaten run of five games which includes 3 victories. They travel to Utrecht where they take on Jan Wouters side who continue to dissappoint this season as they lie just above the bottom three zone. The injury plagued hosts will be looking to rise up the table similar to their opponents in order to not get sucked into a bottom three battle.
Marco Van Basten’s side have suffered just one defeat this season in a much improved start when comparing against last season. They will continue Saturdays action when they entertain Vitesse at home in the Abe Lenstra Stadion. Vitesse suffered their first home defeat in round 9 and will now have to complete their season without the veteran, Theo Janssen who knees injury sustained in that loss has ruled him out. Sc Heerenveen will be looking to continue their strong start and will be confident as they have dominated this fixture, unbeaten in the last 9 games between the two including five victories.
The crunch tie to see out Saturdays action sees league leaders, FC Twente take on last years Champions, Ajax at the Grolsch Veste stadion. FC Twente last recorded a victory at home to Ajax in 2009, including suffering a 2-0 defeat last season. The two sides have been bitter rivals over recent years after competing in crunch ties. Ajax recorded an infamous 3-1 victory on the final day of the 2010/11 season to win the title ahead of FC Twente, days after FC Twente had defeated Ajax in the Dutch Cup final. A win for FC Twente on Saturday will see them go four points ahead of Ajax, whilst a win for the visitors will see them leapfrog the hosts.
Sundays action will kick start with Heracles Almelo entertaining bottom side, NEC Nijmegen. The visitors are without a win this season, and incredibly without a win in the Eredivisie since February of 2013. This poor form resulted in Alex Pastoors managerial reign ending and the Nijmegen sides residing in the relegation zone. A run of four draws has get them just within touch of ADO Den Haag and RKC Waalwijk ahead of them. Talking of ADO Den Haag, as they are playing away from home in round ten, they will be in action. They travel to former league leaders, PEC Zwolle, who after recording four straight victories at the start of the campaign are now without a win in the previous five fixtures. This is has seen Ron Jans side drop to 6th, however as ADO Den Haag are the visitors, they will be looking to get back on the winning track.
The remaining fixtures in round ten see joint league leaders, PSV travel to the Euroborg, home of FC Groningen. The hosts have had a mixed start to the season after suffering heavy losses on the road to FC Twente, SC Cambuur and SC Heerenveen, however at home they are difficult to beat as Ajax found out when they were held to a 1-1 draw. In round nine they also recorded a victory over AZ Alkmaar, so PSV, who themselves have struggled on the road this season will find it difficult to walk away from Groningen with the three points.
Former PSV manager, Dick Advocaat, who left at the end of last season due to retirement, has returned to the footballing scene for a second stint with AZ Alkmaar. Gertjan Verbeeks replacement will take charge of the Cheese Farmers this Saturday when they conclude the rounds action at home to the resilient SC Cambuur. The visitors have a strong defensive record this season, however the lack of goal action up top has seen them struggle to record victories and drop to 14th.