The Eredivisie enters round six this weekend with Vitesse v PSV Eindhoven the big game. Michael Bell looks at the big stories ahead of all the matches and picks his player to watch and bet of the week.

Ajax to experiment in Venlo

I thought Ajax did well on Wednesday and were rather unlucky not to come away from the game against Liverpool with at least a draw. However, it is clear that the Ajax attack is missing some spark and a natural goalscorer is needed.

Next week, Ajax travel to Atalanta in a crucial game, but first, they have a clash against VVV Venlo. It is the perfect chance for Erik ten Hag to try out some attacking options or give some key players a rest before they head to Italy.

I would love to see Brian Brobbey get a chance to impress, but that is unlikely despite his great form for Jong Ajax. With Mohammed Kudus out, why doesn’t Ten Hag try Dusan Tadic as the ten, and Huntelaar or Traore through the middle? The big plus is that Antony seems to be fit again.

Twente’s young guns to impress again at Utrecht?

FC Twente is the surprise package of the season so far for me, and they were excellent in the 3-0 win at Willem II last week.

Danilo is in great form up front, while Godfried Roemeratoe and Jayden Oosterwolde are two excellent young players who are excelling under Ron Jans.

On Saturday, Twente takes their unbeaten record to Utrecht, who have also started the season without a defeat. Both sides have ambitions to reach Europe, but Twente look the more complete side at the moment.

Utrecht look short up front with Dalmau still out and I can see Twente getting their most impressive win of the campaign so far.

Veerman’s to excel against Emmen

I thought Heerenveen would have been able to put up more of a fight against Ajax last week, but they could not contain Mohammed Kudus, who ran the show.

This weekend, Heerenveen should get back on track against Emmen, and I expect Joey and Henk Veerman to be crucial in a Frisian victory.

Joey Veerman is a future Netherlands international and this is the season he will propel himself into the limelight. Up front, Henk Veerman has added goals to the Frisian’s attack and I expect him to net against Emmen this weekend.

It should be the Veerman show in the late game on Saturday.

Robben on show in Limburg?

Arjen Robben made a cameo from the bench in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Utrecht, and this weekend he will be hoping for more playing time when Groningen head for Fortuna Sittard on Sunday morning.

Groningen have had a good start to the season and will be aiming for a victory against Fortuna, who currently sit second bottom.

It would be a risk to start with Robben, but the veteran could make a big impact from the bench against a poor defence. Could we see Robben’s first Eredivisie goal of the season?

PSV brought back to earth and now have to face Vitesse

PSV had been flying high after the comfortable 3-0 win over PEC Zwolle last weekend, and looked set to record a Europa League win when Mario Gotze fired them ahead against Granada. However, as soon as the German maestro was substituted, PSV fell apart and were deservedly beaten by the La Liga side.

PSV have now been brought back down to earth and they need to pick themselves up this weekend. However, a tricky trip to Vitesse Arnhem now lies in wait.

Its the clash of the weekend between 3rd and 1st with Vitesse confident of inflicting another defeat on Roger Schmidt’s side.

PSV will be boosted by the return of Jordan Teze and Eran Zahavi, and should have Gotze available despite a slight injury.

Arnhem has been a tricky place for PSV in recent years and it will be intriguing to see if Schmidt’s side can bounce back with a win.

Bazoer continues to impress at centre-back

Riechedly Bazoer’s career has been on a downward spiral ever since he left Ajax, but he has a new lease of life this season.

Thomas Letsch has managed to get the best out of Bazoer as a centre-back, and he has been one of the players that has impressed me most this campaign.

Bazoer played in the role as a youth at PSV but moved to Ajax because their willingness to let him be a midfielder. Now, Bazoer is back in the defence and it looks the position most likely to get his career back on track.

This weekend, Bazoer will come up against PSV’s attack and I wouldn’t bet against the 24-year-old keeping Donyell Malen quiet.

Linssen or Jorgensen for wasteful Feyenoord?

Feyenoord really should have defeated Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night but had a bad night in front of goal.

Dick Advocaat now has a dilemma this weekend ahead of the visit to improving RKC Waalwijk. Does he stick with Bryan Linssen, who missed two great chances in Croatia, through the middle or start with Nicolai Jorgensen, who has recovered from injury.

Linssen offers more pace and movement, but he has not been sharp enough in front of goal so far this season. Advocaat could move him to the wing to allow Jorgensen to start.

If the Dane can get some confidence and match practice then he could be key to Feyenoord’s chances domestically and in Europe.

Has AZ’s season turned around with victory at Napoli?

Napoli 0-1 AZ Alkmaar is not a result I saw coming but what an incredible win for Arne Slot’s side.

To be missing so many players and still get the win, given their form this season, was great, but they now need to start picking up wins in the Eredivisie.

Sunday offers them the perfect chance to do that when they travel to ADO Den Haag, who look like relegation candidates once again.

Calvin Stengs as the number ten is an experiment I like and want to see more of, while I can see Dani De Wit excelling as a striker until Myron Boadu returns.

Elsewhere

PEC Zwolle host stuttering Willem II on Saturday with both sides in need of a win. On Sunday, Sparta Rotterdam look to build on their draw against Feyenoord when they host Heracles Almelo.

Players to Watch

A Netherlands provisional squad will be getting announced next week and all eyes will be on any players that could work there way into Frank de Boer’s plans this weekend.

Virgil van Dijk’s injury opens up a slot at centre-back with Matthijs de Ligt also still out. Bruno Martins Indi was excellent against Napoli and could work his way back into the national team picture with another performance for AZ this weekend.

However, the most likely call-up could be Davy Klaassen, who has been excellent in his first two performances for Ajax. I didn’t think he would be a good signing, but he has proved me wrong so far. He was all over the pitch against Liverpool and drove the team forward. If he can continue his good form this weekend against VVV, then no reason why he can’t be called up.

Bet of the week

I got it right last weekend with Davy Klaassen to score anytime on his Ajax return, and this weekend I’m going to go for something a bit different.

An accumulator of goalscorers.

Joey Veerman, Arjen Robben, Steven Berghuis, and Danilo all to score at anytime this weekend will get you odds of 36.89/1.




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