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, it’s PSV & Woking FC fan Robert Breukers, who is in charge of Marketing and Partnerships at Staantribune Media – a popular Dutch magazine on football culture.
Sunday 12th May
AZ v PSV
Michael’s prediction: AZ will always be a very tricky side to face on their day. The Netherlands’ fourth-best side could put in one last brilliant home performance and end PSV’s title hopes. I think that’s unlikely given PSV’s haul of points this season and AZ’s decline from last season’s heights. Still, I think we’ll see PSV on the ropes at times in Alkmaar, and only a battling display will get them a narrow win, in my opinion. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Robert’s prediction: AZ are done with this season. Regardless of the result they’re finishing in fourth position which is quite nice. PSV have everything to play for and need a win. 1-3
Groningen v Fortuna Sittard
Michael’s prediction: Groningen will be delighted with Willem II’s cup defeat; they can now sneak into the Europa League playoffs if they can overtake the beaten cup finalists into eighth spot. The narrow defeat to Ajax at home ended a run of seven successive home wins – so I think they’ll earn another home win against Fortuna. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.
Robert’s prediction: Groningen started very bad in this league campaign but have done much better in the last four months. Fortuna played themselves practically safe and are going to play another year in the top flight – a great result for them. Most of their points they have gained in home matches with just two wins away from home this season. Therefore I’ll put my money on Groningen. 3-1
PEC Zwolle v VVV-Venlo
Michael’s prediction: VVV have only tasted victory away from home once since September, which is puzzling to me given that they have pacy players to play on the counter-attack. PEC are much more threatening at home and I think they’ll put VVV on the back foot throughout. Sometimes at the end of the Eredivisie season, goals can fly in, but I see a drab affair here instead. 1-1 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Robert’s prediction: A game without any interest. Only fans of PEC and VVV will be interested in the result of this one. From the moment Jaap Stam took the manager role at PEC, they have been in an upswing. Add to that that VVV’s last away win was in January and you know which team is going to win. 3-1
Ajax v Utrecht– WATCH LIVE ON PREMIER SPORTS 2
Michael’s prediction: Ajax have faced their toughest tests in the Eredivisie already; Utrecht are hardly in form, despite their lofty fifth-place position. The visitors have been relatively flat and, for me, are unlikely to win the Europa League play-offs due to their recent performances. Ajax will pull the band together after their Champions League heartbreak (let’s not dwell on this too long before we feel depressed) to score a few goals with ease, then stroll on to Wednesday to seal the Eredivisie title. 3-1 | Tip: Ajax -1.5 Asian handicap.
Robert’s prediction: As a PSV fan, I’m a little bit biased of course. Ajax played a cup final last weekend, mid-week they played against Tottenham in the Champions League. Because of that, they’re (hopefully) a bit tired. 1-1
Vitesse v De Graafschap
Michael’s prediction: De Graafschap sit three points from safety – with a better goal difference than 15th-placed Emmen – with this match and Ajax at home to play. Meanwhile, Vitesse need three points in their quest for European football next season. Martin Odegaard will be keen to impress his next club; I believe he’ll be key. 3-0 | Tip: Odegaard to score.
Robert’s prediction: If Vitesse win, they are definitely in a play-off spot for European football. De Graafschap desperately need a three-pointer to avoid a relegation play-off spot. Although I wish de Graafschap all the luck, I can’t see any way they’re going to get a result, not even a point. 2-0
Willem II v Emmen
Michael’s prediction: Another match between a side chasing Europe and another craving only survival. Willem II were non-existent in their Dutch cup final defeat, even though they played an imperious Ajax side. On the other hand, Emmen have lost seven away matches in a row. I think it’ll be a scrappy home win, with Isak back on the score-sheet. 2-0 | Tip: Isak to score at any time.
Robert’s prediction: Willem II just lost the cup final (4-0 to Ajax) last Sunday and that was their moment of glory. They’re still fighting for a play-off spot and need a win. FC Emmen are still in a relegation battle after their 1-0 loss against De Graafschap the other week. Both teams have everything to play for. 1-1
Heerenveen v NAC Breda
Michael’s prediction: NAC’s relegation is inevitable. Heerenveen will land the final blow, with Sam Lammers and Michel Vlap sending home fans home happy before they depart the Frisians this summer. 2-0 | Tip: Lammers to score at any time.
Robert’s prediction: Heerenveen are done with this season, they’re on a very bad run and their last win was in March. NAC need two wins in their last two games and even then they’re depending on results elsewhere. NAC’s biggest problem has been scoring goals (only 28 in 32 games). 2-0
Feyenoord v ADO Den Haag
Michael’s prediction: Five successive wins have cheered Feyenoord fans up and what a way it would be for Robin van Persie to sign off his career in his final game at De Kuip. ADO are waiting for the summer, so I can see a routine home win. 3-0 | Tip: Feyenoord -1.5 Asian handicap.
Robert’s prediction: Both teams have nothing to play for in terms of the league results. But it’s the last home game Feyenoord in ‘de Kuip’ in this season. Therefore it’s the last home game for Robin van Persie as a player and Giovanni van Bronckhorst as a manager. They will want to end their period at Feyenoord on a happy note. 4-1
Heracles v Excelsior
Michael’s prediction: Usually, teams near the bottom pick up a few wins at the end of the season; however, I’ve predicted no wins for all of the bottom six this weekend because they have tough games (all away from home) and the relegation-threatened sides have been poor all campaign. The fight has been there but no unexpected heroes have surfaced to rescue their teams. Heracles will have too much for Excelsior. 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
Robert’s prediction: Heracles have had a good season and will end in a play-off spot for European football, while Excelsior haven’t won a single match in their last 10 games. Add to that a winless streak in away matches since November last year and there’s not much hope for a good result for Excelsior. 3-0
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)
Week 28: 6 results and 1 correct score | 6/9 betting tips won (WON versus commentator Paul Thomas Clay [4 results])
Week 29: 6 results | 2/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Football-Oranje editor and founder Michael Bell [6 results])
Week 30: 3 results | 3/9 betting tips won (LOST versus Football-Oranje writer James Rowe [8 results and 1 correct score])
Week 31: 5 results and 2 correct scores | 5/9 betting tips won (DRAW versus Out of Context Eredivisie’s Yorin Schrader [5 results and 2 correct scores])
Week 32: 4 results | 5/9 betting tips won (LOST versus IMG UK’s Eredivisie Highlights Show expert Jonathan Beck [8 results and 1 correct score])
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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.
Nice job guys, I wish Ajax win the league