FC Utrecht v FC Groningen

This is a good test to see how far Groningen have come recently. They have risen to eighth in the Eredivisie table after only one defeat in seven. For long periods this season, they were in a relegation battle and it looked as though outgoing manager Danny Buijs wouldn’t reach the end of his contract with the club because of how poor they were compared to previous years under his tutelage.

In reality, it took longer than anticipated for Buijs to bed in some of the new players into his squad. Now there’s the likes of teenager Bjorn Meijer starting at full-back and Jorgen Strand Larsen finally showing his potential upfront.

Utrecht are in seventh and will want to use the final eight games of the campaign to prepare for the Europa Conference League play-offs, in which Groningen may also contend. Last weekend they were a touch unfortunate not to score against PSV. ‘Fine margins’ were to blame at full time as to why Utrecht are still unable to uphold any kind of form to break into the top five.

The odds point towards Utrecht getting three points and it to be a low-scoring game. Groningen usually like to be very conservative when they know they won’t get too much possession, and Utrecht can get frustrated when teams stifle their approach. For them, the signing of Henk Veerman up top as a focal point was giving them something different, but he is now out injured, so I think they might struggle for goals again

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Ajax v Feyenoord

Whilst Ajax were knocked out of Europe in mid-week, Feyenoord marched on. On one hand, confidence may play a part in this Klassieker, but on the other, Feyenoord have had less time to prepare for this monster Eredivisie clash, plus they are without some key players.

Feyenoord missed manager Arne Slot on Thursday as well as defenders Gernot Trauner, Tyrell Malacia, and Marcus Pedersen – all due to Covid – they still easily marched to victory over Partizan; however, this is a more difficult game to be without your starting defenders. What’s more, Justin Bijlow is now out for the season through injury – undoubtedly, he is the biggest loss of them all given his influence on his side. In my view, Bijlow is the best goalkeeper in the league.

Ajax, from keeping clean sheets galore, have gone to still controlling matches but conceding sloppy goals, and I think this will continue here. More dropped points really will put the pressure on the title race. Feyenoord will need to use some of the same tactics as Benfica, who knocked Ajax out of the Champions League. The Rotterdammers know that Ajax will have lots of the ball, but forcing Ajax into wide areas has been leading to crosses causing little to no threat in the box.

I would suggest that Ajax will find a way through this depleted Feyenoord defence, since they have shown in the past that they are a ruthless wounded animal, but I think this will be a very competitive game given Ajax’s recent struggles. History isn’t on Feyenoord’s side, having not won away at Ajax since 2005, and they haven’t even scored in Amsterdam for the last five years, but this feels slightly different

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Vitesse Arnhem v RKC Waalwijk

Vitesse battled so well yet again in Europe but were edged out of the competition by Roma. Returning from Italy, I don’t expect a sterling performance because of the effort levels all of the key players have put in over the weeks to get Thomas Letsch’s team so far.

Sometimes this season, Vitesse have fallen flat in the league when their focus has been on a European game. They’re also a side who seem to have heroic or shambolic days in defence too, with players such as Jacob Rasmussen, Danilho Doekhi and Max Wittek being a little inconsistent this season. Wing-back Wittek has been heavily praised for his form in Europe (coined Mr. Conference League by some fans), but he has been occasionally criticised for his offerings in the Eredivisie.

In addition, RKC’s away record has been quite impressive this season for a team in the bottom half. Whilst they may not have won any of their last seven, they have only lost five from thirteen away, and four of those were by a narrow margin – including their last-minute 3-2 defeat at Ajax. Underestimate RKC at your peril: they are a tidy side, who I think are capable of being competitive and taking points from a deflated Vitesse.

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PSV v Fortuna Sittard

PSV scored another four goals against Copenhagen in their last match (but this time keeping a clean sheet to see them through to the last eight), and the weekend before they showed a different kind of performance to edge past Utrecht.

The goals are flowing again; they come into this on the back of scoring 30 times in the last 11. Cody Gakpo went down injured on Thursday and is expected to miss this one, but even without his influence, PSV have plenty of ammunition as shown when they continued to score goals without Gakpo in Denmark.

A home win here is expected against Fortuna because of the visitors’ difficulties of keeping clean sheets away from home. They have conceded 29 from 14 away fixtures this season. Fortuna’s survival hopes rest chiefly upon some winnable upcoming home matches. It must be difficult preparing for a game away at a top side when you know you have been struggling to keep clean sheets. The heads might drop pretty quickly when PSV get an early goal. That’s why I’m backing PSV to comfortably roll in the goals on Sunday.

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Willem II v AZ Alkmaar

Kevin Hofland is the new manager of Willem II; can he turn around the terrible season they are enduring? When he was last in the Eredivisie, he could only pick up three points in eight games with Fortuna Sittard, who in the end last season went on to have a great 20/21 campaign under still-manager Sjors Ultee.

Given that five Dutch sides were involved in European games in mid-week, it should be no surprise that the performances from the sides have heavily influenced my thoughts ahead of Sunday’s Eredivisie games. I thought AZ played quite well against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday, but they tired towards the end and they couldn’t push for the third goal they needed. A bigger selection would ease that headache next season. Without Vangelis Pavlidis up top, they don’t have a focal point, and he tends to never complete the full ninety minutes.

Even against this weekend’s opponents, whose season has turned rotten, it is likely that AZ will drop points because it looks like a good time to play them, and Hofland, despite struggling when last in the Eredivisie, is an unknown factor stepping back into management.I would be reluctant to bet on the result of the game, but I think Willem II being at home with a new manager may see them posing a threat to AZ, and the Alkmaar side are always good for a goal on the road, having scored 20 times in their last eight away from home. 

18+ please gamble responsibly.

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