Vitesse Arnhem v FC Groningen

Winning away at Feyenoord, you could see how the Winter break has refreshed Vitesse, who seemed quite composed, yet not spectacular. Danilho Doekhi and Riechedly Bazoer have been key components in Thomas Letsch’s back five, as well as the wing backs, which I mentioned in last week’s piece too. Most of the back five are likely to earn big summer transfers, and they are fully focussed on Vitesse despite interest from other clubs this month. That system leads to tight games. As a consequence, Vitesse are the second lowest goal-scorers in the top half of the Eredivisie. They sit in fourth place on the back of six wins in seven.

Groningen have been so poor that I don’t see how they score the goals against this solid Vitesse back five. Their narrow home defeat to PSV was incredibly boring; they didn’t even manage a shot on target. Danny Buijs announcing his summer departure from the club may well have had an impact on his players. Back in late Autumn, they seemed to be going through a mini-revival, but they are now winless in five. I expect this game to have very few goals and a narrow win for Vitesse. Groningen will try and contain Vitesse for long periods, which will frustrate them.

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AZ Alkmaar v Cambuur

Earlier in the season, AZ outclassed Cambuur in a 1-3 away win. I see the same happening on Saturday too. Cambuur’s attacking style will match AZ well again and the hosts will create plenty of chances.

Last weekend, Pascal Jansen’s side took part in an end-to-end game with Fortuna Sittard and came away with a fortuitous 1-2 win. In the second half, they gained greater control on the match, but nearly conceded a last-minute equaliser.

They can be a team full of talent and their style is easy on the eye, but they are guilty of conceding too many big opportunities. Centre-back Bruno Martins Indi was missing last time out, but even if he is back, I do think AZ are too leaky to really contend with this season’s top three. I think when playing Cambuur, the run of 8 wins in a row should become nine. Earlier in the season, the team from Leeuwarden played ‘their own game’ and lost 9-0 at Ajax, then not long before Christmas, they were ripped apart by Vitesse (1-6). They have also not kept a clean sheet since October. So I am backing an open game with plenty of goals

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Heerenveen v PEC Zwolle

Heerenveen, who are becoming a boring team to watch, are now also without Joey Veerman who transferred to PSV, and it painfully shows. Hopefully they’ll have an extra midfielder to add before the January transfer window closes who should arrive from Swedish football.

PEC Zwolle won only their second game of the season last Friday – a 2-0 win over capitulating Willem II – so they’ll be much more confident travelling to Friesland. Having to win games like this one is the position they now find themselves in.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the visitors earn a positive result. Fans have been sorely missing from Dutch football in the latest lockdown, and it is leading to some sides playing well below par. Given the situation Zwolle find themselves in, they are feeling extra pressure to win, plus when you have a captain like Bram van Polen, who is a club legend having represented PEC all of his senior career, you understand what the supporters expect from the players. Heerenveen were once famed for their entertaining and attacking football, but under manager Johnny Jansen they are currently the tied fifth lowest scorers in the league. Added to the fact that Zwolle are in fact the league’s lowest scorers – with 11 goals in their 19 matches – and you can see why backing under 2.5 goals is a wise choice. I don’t see PEC getting well beaten, and they’ll want a tight game in order to sneak some points.

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Willem II v FC Twente

It is now ten losses in a row in all competitions for Willem II. The players and the surrounding media are feeling the gravity of the situation they’re in. Their football is too half-hearted; there is no quality or extra bit of pace or strength to earn them goals to get results. They have only scored four goals in their last ten matches in all competitions.

Twente striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel admitted himself that Twente’s football must ultimately improve, but he is happy that they are able to grind out results as a team, that has them in a tightly packed race (between third and sixth) for European places, even though they have four or five youth players starting games regularly! Although I just stated that both sides are likely to be embroiled in a low-quality affair, I do think Willem II will work especially hard in this one for a result, even if it is a draw to stop the rot.

Twente should win this on paper. Some sections of the media are now suggesting that the Tilburgers are only struggling because they had poor recruitment in the summer to replace the outgoing Vangelis Pavlidis and Mike Trésor.

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