It’s back! Every week in the 2020/21 season, Football-Oranje’s Michael Statham gives you his predictions and betting tips for each Dutch Eredivisie round.
- by Michael Statham
- Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike
Saturday, 12th September
Heerenveen v Willem II
We discussed each Eredivisie team in depth on our Eredivisie preview podcast. In short though, Heerenveen still don’t have their finished squad ready for the new campaign, whilst Willem II look raring to go for another exciting season in the Eredivisie and also this time in the Europa League. Willem II have some nice attacking players for a team outside the top four, but strikers Wriedt and Pavlidis might not be fit for this one. Both sides won’t be at their best. 1-1 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
PEC Zwolle v Feyenoord – LIVE on Premier Sports 1
I’m tipping PEC Zwolle to wind up in relegation trouble this season, despite their encouraging, defensively tight, 1-0 wins in pre-season. Feyenoord are in for a positive campaign, and will want to immediately stake their claim to win the Eredivisie this season by winnning away games like this one. Feyenoord are so consistently good in De Kuip, but we’ll see their title credentials in this one. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
FC Twente v Fortuna Sittard
Twente are putting the finishing touches now on an almost completely new squad, coached by new manager Ron Jans. I have been impressed with Fortuna’s summer business; with an extra centre-back, they could have a team that could threaten the top half. I can see Twente winning this one though, with Lamprou and Cerny being handfuls down the wings. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.
FC Utrecht v AZ Alkmaar
Here are two teams who are looking to trouble the traditional top three of Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV at the top of the table. Unfortunately, this game has been postponed to allow AZ the best preparation for their upcoming Champions League tie. P-P | Tip: n/a
Sunday, 13th September
FC Emmen v VVV-Venlo
I see both of these teams hovering above the relegation zone for much of the season, but just surviving. Emmen manager Dick Lukkien has another big job on his hands to keep his side up again, despite an excellent midfield for this level of the Eredivisie, and VVV will do what they keep doing well: being hard to beat. 0-0 | Tip: Under 2.5 goals.
Sparta Rotterdam v Ajax – LIVE on Premier Sports 1
Sparta have enough in their team for a comfortable season of ups and downs – they have a strong spine to the squad, but new signing Reda Kharchouch is out until December. Ajax have been on fire in pre-season; young defenders Schuurs and Rensch have impressed when given the chance, and there’s a new look to their attack, with Zakaria Labyad the new striker supported in midfield by new signings Mohammed Kudus and Anthony. If they can dazzle some more with their football on Sunday, it’ll be an easy win. 0-3 | Tip: Ajax -1.5 Asian handicap.
Heracles Almelo v ADO Den Haag
Heracles have enough about them, for me, to beat ADO quite comfortably here. It’s so difficult making predictions on the opening week of the season, but even if ADO’s host of new young players come good, I can’t see them putting in a performance to beat Heracles in their stadium, which, even without fans and departed top goal-scorer Cyriel Dessers, is going to be a hard place to go. 2-0 | Tip: Heracles -1.5 Asian handicap.
FC Groningen v PSV – LIVE on Premier Sports 1
The question on people’s lips regarding Groningen this season is ‘can Robben be fit to play every week’? Pre-season hasn’t been easy for him, and it’s a stunning game like this one against his old side which stand out in the fixture list. Even if Robben plays, it won’t be his old devastating best, nor a whole 90 minutes, which makes me think PSV will win this one quite easily. Usually Groningen away is a tough game for the big teams, and whilst I reckon PSV will have some tricky times this season, they should win this one well under the new 4-4-2 tactics of Roger Schmidt. Defensively PSV have been shakey still in pre-season, so I don’t think they’ll get a clean sheet. 1-3 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.
RKC Waalwijk v Vitesse Arnhem
RKC earning a reprieve from relegation last season baffled me. Pre-season hasn’t been easy for them, nor summer transfer business; there’s a clear lack of money for Eredivisie teams to invest this summer. Vitesse also had to look for free agents and loan deals, despite their regular rankings in amongst the top seven. Thomas Letsch is another new German coach utilising the 4-4-2 formation this season. I think it’ll see Vitesse get the best out of new pacey striker Lois Openda, who will open his account here. 1-3| Tip: Vitesse +1.5 team goals.
How has Michael done so far?