Every week in the 2018/19 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round. Michael competes against a different special guest each week. This time, Norwegian commentator Paul Thomas Clay, who commentates on the Eredivisie, amongst other competitions such as the Champions League, for Viasat.
Tuesday 2nd April
Vitesse v AZ
Michael’s prediction: What an exciting way to start the midweek proceedings! Seventh plays third in a game that I expect is full of entertainment and some goals. Vitesse have Tim Matavz back from injury but he’s unlikely to play over Thomas Buitink – the 18-year-old striker who scored a hat-trick at the weekend. AZ are on the up and I don’t think they’ll leave Arnhem empty handed. 2-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
PT’s prediction: Vitesse certainly score enough goals these days, their problem is at the other end. Only four clean sheets this season. AZ have had a tendency recently to edge out close encounters, and are a slightly better team. With the home advantage for Vitesse I think this will be a tight game. 1-1
Heracles v Willem II
Michael’s prediction: Another match in the ‘sub-top’ as both teams chase European football. Neither Heracles nor Willem II played their best football at the weekend but I think the home side have an extra layer of attacking quality that’ll see them win the game comfortably on Tuesday night. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.
PT’s prediction: Willem II’s recent good form has brought them within touching distance of the play-off positions. With the cup final against Ajax awaiting in the beginning of May, they have a lot to play for in the coming weeks. Heracles have been quite good themselves lately, so this should be an entertaining game at the Polman Stadion (love the atmosphere there!) 3-2
Groningen v De Graafschap
Michael’s prediction: After playing negative football in their 1-0 defeat to AZ, Groningen will now be expected to attack. De Graafschap though have a whole different feel to them at the moment and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pick up another good result – Burgzorg and Benschop have caused trouble in attack. A draw is an unlikely result but I’m struggling to pick a winner. Groningen will proably still be without a 100% fit Ritsu Doan. 1-1 | Tip: De Graafschap double chance.
PT’s prediction: Only one loss for Groningen in their last eight games (away to AZ on Saturday). Their home form is also good, five wins out of the last five. If we go back six games we find a 1-2 loss to Emmen… It’s always difficult to play teams battling against relegation. De Graafschap’s two last victories have come away from home. My brain says Groningen, my gut says De Graafschap. 1-2
Wednesday 3rd April
VVV-Venlo v Utrecht
Michael’s prediction: VVV currently sit eight points off the bottom three and are the same distance away from the Europa League playoffs; with seven games left, neither is realistic to achieve. For me, the first goal here is vital to the game’s outcome. I think VVV will make it difficult for Utrecht but some freedom on the counter-attack should see the away side edge this one. 0-2 | Tip: Away win.
PT’s prediction: VVV have little to play for, I think they’ll secure enough points in the last seven games to stay in the Eredivisie and they are too far away from the play-off spots. Utrecht will look to keep their good form running (after a bad end to 2018 and start to 2019). Playing VVV at De Koel is never easy though. 1-1
Fortuna Sittard v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: Both teams would love a win to ease relegation fears. I have a feeling that ADO will pinch a win here. ADO are winless in five, look poor in defence and remain overreliant on El Khayati’s contribution, yet the need for points is great and Fortuna still are far from a fully available choice of defenders. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
PT’s prediction: Both in need of points – both on 29 and only goal difference separating them. Despite similar numbers and recent form I feel ADO have the stronger team/squad. They can take confidence from putting three goals past Vitesse this weekend, they just need to tighten up at the back. 0-2
Excelsior v NAC Breda
Michael’s prediction: In a league full of goals, it’s rather embarrassing for Excelsior to have not scored in five successive matches. This battle at the bottom could provide a huge result for the final look of this season’s table. New manager Ruud Brood has reinstated some confidence for NAC but it’s still a long way back to Eredivisie safety. That said, I think they’ll enjoy a rare win on Wednesday. 1-3 | Tip: NAC double chance.
PT’s prediction: Looking at the recent results of these two clubs is quite depressing. Excelsior had a good run in Febuary, but they are far from safe yet. Being only one point above the relegation play-offs, they will not take this lightly, even though NAC are far worse off. On their hand, NAC needs to bag a three-pointer now if they are to give themselves a chance of staying up. They haven’t beaten an opponent since two days before Christmas, and only three points out of a possible 30 in the last ten games. 3-0
Emmen v Ajax
Michael’s prediction: Emmen continue to struggle and this fixture will do nothing to help. Ajax won’t be at their firing best, but should surely have enough to glide past their opponents. I think it’s important for Erik Ten Hag to rotate his squad here, something he did excellently towards the end of the 2-1 win over PSV. 0-3 | Tip: Ajax -1.5 Asian handicap.
PT’s prediction: On one hand this is an easy prediction, on the other hand not so much. The superior quality of Ajax contrary to that of Emmen is astronomical; the Amsterdammers should thrash the home team. The excellent, and vital, victory over PSV on Sunday has given them a boost ahead of the very decisive five weeks that lay ahead. Will ten Hag gamble and rotate on his starting XI? A relegation threatened Emmen could prove a problem, but I don’t think they will. 0-4
Thursday 4th April
PSV v PEC Zwolle – WATCH LIVE ON PREMIER SPORTS 2
Michael’s prediction: PEC manager Jaap Stam will be pleased to pick up six points from the last two games to get away from trouble. PSV are a different proposition and I suspect it’ll be a quiet night for the Eindhoven side as they look to pragmatically sweep past another team to forget about the dramatic defeat to Ajax. The title is still in their hands. 2-0 | Tip: Luuk de Jong to score at any time.
PT’s prediction: A really poor performance from PSV in De Topper on Sunday, and they will look to bounce back quickly. The Philips Stadion is a fortress; a ridiculous record of 12-1-0 on home soil, 46 goals scored and only four conceded. The most difficult place to come if you want points. In a way, the league leaders need the points more and they only have the league to focus on (as opposed to Ajax). I predict a fairly easy win for PSV. 3-1
Feyenoord v Heerenveen – WATCH LIVE ON PREMIER SPORTS 2
Michael’s prediction: Heerenveen were so free scoring before their home defeat to De Graafschap and slim victory over Excelsior. However, I think the visitors will perform above expectations in Rotterdam and put a creaky defence under even more pressure. There’s just such a lack of assurance and leadership in that Feyenoord back four + goalkeeper; it’s not been regular all season. Seeing as this match is in De Kuip and the Feyenoord faithful will expect a response to the Utrecht defeat, I think it’ll be a hard fought home win, after a couple of scares. 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
PT’s prediction: This, I think, will be the most entertaining tie of the midweek round. Rarely mediocre and boring performances from these two teams, it’s either heaven or hell. Except for Ajax and PSV, Feyenoord and Heerenveen are the two highest scoring teams in the Eredivisie. Both on 57 goals, Heerenveen the more generous of the two at the back (59 conceded, Feyenoord with 36). It will be the upset of the week if this ends 0-0. 3-2
How has Michael done so far?
Week 1: 4 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus author Ferdi Delies [2 results])
Week 2: 5 results | 2/9 betting tips won (LOST versus writer Alex Dieker [6 results])
Week 3: 3 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus author Abdul Al Sayed [4 results])
Week 4: 2 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus IMG UK’s Eredivisie Highlights Show expert Jonathan Beck [5 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 5: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Notts County winger Enzio Boldewijn [3 results])
Week 6: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje writer Charlie Pritchard [5 results and 1 correct score])
Week 7: 6 results and 2 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Willem II graphic designer FootyGraphic [3 results])
Week 8: 6 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [7 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 9: 8 results and 4 correct scores | 7/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football Manager researcher Jeroen Thijssen [7 results and 1 correct score])
Week 10: 6 results and 3 correct scores | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus PSV-watcher and Eindhovens Dagblad journalist Rik Elfrink [4 results and 1 correct score])
Week 11: 5 results* and 1 correct score | 4/8* betting tips won (WON versus secretary of England’s eighth division Matt Jones [4* results]) *=Feyenoord v VVV cancelled
Week 12: 6 results | 4/9 betting tips won (WON versus Sky Sports journalist Joshua Hayward [4 results])
Week 13: 5 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Northampton Town’s Dutch striker Kevin van Veen [6 results and 1 correct score])
Week 14: 4 results | 7/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje.com editor Michael Bell [4 results])
Week 15: 5 results | 8/9 betting tips won (WON versus writer Alex Moretto)
Week 16: 5 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje.com writer James Rowe [4 results])
Week 17: 5 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus ZiggoSport editor Joep Smeets [4 results and 1 correct score])
Week 18: 3 results | 6/9 betting tips won (LOST versus FC Utrecht e-Sporter Danny Hazebroek)
Week 19: 4 results and 1 correct score | 2/9 betting tips won (WON versus Football-Oranje.com writer Alex Royal [1 result])
Week 20: 5 results | 8/9 betting tips won (WON versus BN DeStem Voetbal journalist Maarten Elst [3 results])
Week 21: 4 results and 1 correct score | 4/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje.com editor Michael Bell [5 results])
Week 22: 6 results and 1 correct score | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus Dutch football tipster Crypto [4 results])
Week 23: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Football-Oranje.com writer Alex Royal [5 results])
Week 24: 8 results and 2 correct scores (+ Ajax v PEC Zwolle postponed) | 5/9 betting tips won (WON versus FC Groningen clubwatcher Merijn Slagter [7 results and 1 correct score])
Week 25: 8 results and 2 correct scores | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus Eredivisie scout Xander Wilkinson [6 results and 1 correct score])
Week 26: 4 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus Pilka w Holandi writer Adam Sankowski [4 results])
Week 27: 4 results | 6/9 bettings tips won [1 void] (LOST versus IMG Media commentator Richard Connelly)
Follow
Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.
