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
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Friday, 22nd January

Willem II v PEC Zwolle

After an encouraging draw with RKC, Willem II have another chance to dig themselves out of trouble with a home game against PEC Zwolle, who, in my opinion, looked out of sorts against Fortuna in their previous match. John Stegeman’s side kept shooting themselves in the foot by giving away possession time and again around their own box. It was a strange performance after being so defensively robust away at Feyenoord the game before. 2-0 | Tip: Home win.

Saturday, 23rd January

ADO Den Haag v FC Emmen

The league’s bottom two facing off probably will be best watched behind a sofa. ADO have so many average players that they won’t suddenly pull off a big performance to sweep eigthteenth-placed Emmen away, whilst Emmen are so full of defensive errors. Because of the mistakes, I’m leaning towards a scrappy home win. 2-1 | Tip: Both teams to score.

Vitesse Arnhem v FC Groningen

Just when I thought Vitesse might be fading away from the top three, I have been impressed in back-to-back games watching them. They do have a certain solidity about them and they do always carry a goal threat. Furthermore, Thomas Letsch was able to rotate a few players against Emmen and they still won comfortably. As for Groningen, they will provide a stern test for the hosts, no shadow of a doubt, but I think Vitesse have the defensive nous to keep the tall Norwegian Jorgen Strand Larsen quiet, as well as plenty of movement to create chances against a back four which is beginning to show cracks, even under Danny Buijs’s tutelage. 1-0 | Tip: Home win.

PSV v RKC Waalwijk Delayed airing on Premier Sports 1

I know PSV lost their last home game to AZ, but even the PSV from that off-day would be enough to surpass RKC. Even though Waalwijk have been a stronger team this season, I still think this is a match that PSV should be winning just as easily. 3-0 | Tip: PSV -1.5 Asian handicap.

Heracles v Heerenveen

I think if you check back, I have predicted Heerenveen to win a fair number of games since their last actual win! I’m tempted to go for them again here though because I sense that their poor winless run has to end somewhere. This is a rare case where I’m going to go against my gut and predict something other than a victory to Heerenveen…Heracles have been very inconsistent of late, surprising you one minute, and heavily disappointing the next. 2-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Sunday, 24th January

Fortuna Sittard v Ajax – LIVE on Premier Sports 2

To be clear, Fortuna Sittard have won five of their last seven. That fantastic run has seen them surge to be on the verge of the top half. Does that mean they’ll be more of a threat to Ajax? The confidence will certainly help, but there are arguably only a small number of teams in the Eredivisie that are capable of producing a surprise victory over Ajax – often the last ten minutes of games like this one can be crucial for the Dutch giants to dig themselves out of trouble. Ajax will be relieved to have picked up seven points from nine in a week containing PSV, Twente and Feyenoord. They were probably second best in at least two of those three games, so obviously their points return is pretty impressive. On Sunday, it wouldn’t surprise me if Fortuna score to put pressure on Ajax, but it would be a massive shock for Sittard to win. 1-2 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

FC Utrecht v Sparta Rotterdam

This is a tough one because Sparta have been so impressive against sides in and around them in the Eredivisie table, whilst Utrecht look to be ‘turning the corner’ in their season one minute, then are bang average the next. If you fancy Sparta to get something from this, they are great odds for a draw or an away win, and we’ve seen how they have been this season. I am, however, going to plump for Utrecht. 2-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

FC Twente v VVV-Venlo

Ron Jans deserves so much credit for rebuilding a Twente side with only a handful of contracted players last summer to create a team even more capable than last season’s and one which looks so well-rounded. The midfield always seems a weakness to me with several young players getting game-time, but when you watch Twente, it’s never a problem. They should have too much for visiting VVV, who tried to valiently hold onto a slim lead last weekend, but they’re just not defensively resolute enough. 3-1 | Tip: Over 2.5 goals.

Feyenoord v AZ Alkmaar Delayed airing on Premier Sports 1

Another week in January, another top game featuring two of this season’s exciting top five! Well, I say exciting, Feyenoord haven’t been wholly convincing for much of the campaign, but they did create many very good chances at Ajax last time out. AZ love the big occasion, so much so that they put all of their creative eggs in one basket in an impressive win over PSV, but then they relied upon a last-minute winner to scrape past struggling ADO in their previous fixture. Feyenoord’s creativity with such little possession is encouraging if they intend to play on the counter attack again here to stifle AZ. I don’t think Feyenoord will do this though, and AZ are brilliant in pulling the strings with the space in front of back fours. 1-2 | Tip: AZ double chance.

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How has Michael done so far?

Week 1: 6/8 results (including 2 correct scores) + 3/8 betting tips

Week 2: 5/9 results (including 1 correct score) + 6/9 (1 void) betting tips

Week 3: 3/9 results + 6/9 betting tips

Week 4: 2/8 results + 5/8 betting tips

Week 5: 2/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 5/9 (1 void) betting tips

Week 6: 1/9 results + 3/9 betting tips

Week 7: 6/9 results + 9/9 betting tips!

Week 8: 5/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 5/9 betting tips

Week 9: 5/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 4/9 (1 void) betting tips

Week 10: 7/9 results (and 3 correct scores) + 7/9 betting tips

Week 11: 5/9 results (and 2 correct scores) + 8/9 betting tips

Week 12: 2/9 results + 4/9 betting tips

Week 13: 4/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 6/9 betting tips

Week 14: 3/9 results (and 1 correct score) + 7/9 betting tips

Week 15: 1/9 results + 3/9 betting tips

Week 16: 2/9 results + 1/9 betting tips

Week 17: 6/9 results and 1 correct score + 5/8 (1 void) betting tips




Michael Statham (800 Posts)

Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.