After the midweek European action, the Eredivisie returns with round eleven. Here is a preview of all this weekends matches.
- By Michael Bell
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The action gets underway in De Goffert stadium on Friday, as NEC Nijmegen look to get their first win of the season against Heerenveen. NEC will look to build on their improved performance against Heracles last week, where they earned a 1-1 draw despite being down to ten men. Heerenveen tasted defeat for the first time in five matches last week when they lost 3-2 to Vitesse, and they will hope to get back on track against the Eredivisie’s bottom side.
Saturday’s matches start with struggling ADO Den Haag hosting league leaders FC Twente on the back of their 6-1 defeat to PEC Zwolle last week. Twente drew 1-1 with Ajax last week, and will see the game against ADO Den Haag as a chance to cement their place at the top.
After three loses in a row, Cambuur will be hoping for a change of luck against Utrecht, who returned to winning ways last week with a 4-2 win over NAC Breda. Utrecht have struggled on the road so far this season, and Cambuur will be hoping to continue this trend.
In a mid-table clash, NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles clash at the Rat Verlegh Stadion with both teams looking to move away from the bottom end of the table, and enter the top ten. NAC are unbeaten in their last three home matches, while Go Ahead Eagles will still be on a high after their last minute equaliser against Feyenoord last week.
Saturday’s action ends with Ajax, still hurting from their midweek Champions League defeat to Celtic, hosting an RKC Waalwijk side who are in free-fall after five defeats in a row. The match has a nailed on home win written all over it, but could midweek frustration get to Ajax?
PSV Eindhoven travel to Kerkrade on Sunday to face Roda JC on the back of their trip to Croatia in the Europa League. After last weeks defeat to Groningen, and Thursday’s draw with Dinamo Zagreb, Phillip Cocu’s side will be eager to get back to winning ways. However Roda JC are unbeaten in their last four matches, and could put another dent into PSV’s title credentials.
Feyenoord return to Sunday action, after a rare outing on Saturday night last week saw them concede a last minute equaliser to Go Ahead Eagles. This week they host Heracles, who failed to beat 10 man NEC Nijmegen last week in a 1-1 draw. If Feyenoord hope to challenge for the title, these are the must win games for Ronald Koeman’s side.
Arguably the tie of the weekend sees third place PEC Zwolle taking on AZ Alkmaar, who may be tired after a trip to Kazakhstan during the week. PEC Zwolle hammered ADO Den Haag 6-1 last week to return to winning ways, while Dick Advocaat will be looking continue his good start as AZ’s new coach.
The weekends action ends with 6th v 7th facing off, as Vitesse entertain Groningen, with both sides confident after good wins last week. Vitesse came back from 2-0 down against Heerenveen, and won 3-2 thanks to Patrick van Aanholt’s final minute strike. Groningen saw off PSV 1-0 in a terrific defensive performance. Goalkeeper Marco Bizot was man of the match for Groningen last week and he will need to be on top form again to stop an attacking Vitesse side.
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