We preview week one of the 2017/18 Dutch Eredivisie league which starts on Friday the 11th of August.
The 2017/2018 Eredivisie league is set to kick off this weekend with nine matches taking place this weekend. 33-time league winners, Ajax Amsterdam, 23-time winner PSV Eindhoven, and 15-time winners and current champions, Feyenoord will be the major contenders for this year’s League trophy.
We preview week one of the Eredivisie league which starts on Friday the 11th of August.
Friday 11 August 2017
Den Hang 43/20 |Draw 23/10 | Utrecht 5/4
Utrecht had a stellar 2016 season and finished fourth on the Eredivisie log, scoring 52 goals, conceding 38, and winning 18 from 34 matches. Their opponents Den Hang finished just under the top ten (11), conceding 59 goals from 39 they scored. Den Hang will need more clean sheets this season if they want the prospect of improving their 2016 record. Back the Utecht team for an outright win.
Saturday 12 August
Venlo 5/4 | Draw 23/10 | Sparta Rotterdam 2/1
Venlo are looking to make their mark in the Eredivisie after being promoted from the Eerste Divisie, winning 25 of their 38 matches, scoring 75 goals and only conceding 35. Their opponents this weekend, Sparta Rotterdam struggled last season only managing 15th place. This makes for an interesting encounter as the new boys (Venlo) take on league veterans Sparta Rotterdam. I’d go for a draw as teams will be shaking off pre-season cobwebs.
PSV 7/20 | Draw 17/4 | AZ Alkmaar | 13/2
PSV’s solid third place 2016 finish, with 22 matches won from 34 matches, 68 goals scored, makes them title contenders this season. They’ll face AZ Alkmaar a side that finished sixth, with 12 wins from their 34 matches and nine losses. Bet on PSV for a comfortable win.
Vitesse 11/20 | Draw 32/10 | NAC Breda 17/4
Fifth place 2016 finisher, Vitesse won 15 from 34 matches but lost too many (13), their goal scoring record was quite healthy with 51 scored and 40 conceded. They’ll take on newly promoted NAC Breda who finished fifth in the Eerste Divisie. This should be a challenging but definite win for Vitesse.
Heracles 57/10 | Draw 7/2 | Ajax Amsterdam 9/20
Ajax Amsterdam is this year’s definite contender for the title race, their young squad was on song the whole season, even reaching the Europa league final, but a lack of experience saw them lose to Manchester United. This season they’ll sharpen their edges and come back even stronger. Their 2016 second place finish with a single point away from league champions, Feyenoord, means once they fix a few of their niggles they’ll taste victory again.
Heracles 2016 season saw them come in at 10th place, with 12 wins, 7 draws, and 15 losses. Back Ajax for the easy win.
Sunday 13 August
Zwolle 8/10 | Draw 26/10 | Roda JC 31/10
Zwolle only managed 9 wins last season, a statistic they have to improve on, in order to climb from their 2016 14th place finish. Roda will be disappointed as they finished in the bottom two. Only winning 7 matches and lost 15 with 12 draws. Bet on Zwolle at 8/10 to win.
Feyenoord 2/9 | Draw 5/1 | Twente 10/1
2016 cup winners, Feyenoord stormed to the top of the log with 26 wins from 34 matches and only 4 losses, scoring 86 goals, conceding only 25. Their opponents Twente finished in seventh place, with 12 wins, 13 losses, and nine draws. Bet on Feyenoord to get their season off to a winning start.
2016 cup winners, Feyenoord stormed to the top of the log with 26 wins from 34 matches and only 4 losses, scoring 86 goals, conceding only 25. Their opponents Twente finished in seventh place, with 12 wins, 13 losses, and nine draws. Bet on Feyenoord to get their season off to a winning start.
Willem II 19/20 | Draw 5/2 | Excelsior 26/10
Willem and Excelsior share a similar 2016 record, as they finished with 36 and 35 points respectively. Both teams had nine wins, with Willem II losing a match extra (16) than their opponents. Bet on a draw.
Willem and Excelsior share a similar 2016 record, as they finished with 36 and 35 points respectively. Both teams had nine wins, with Willem II losing a match extra (16) than their opponents. Bet on a draw.
Groningen 23/20 | Draw 51/20 | Heerenveen 21/20
Groningen and Heerenveen finished 2016 on the same points (43), Groningen, on the other hand, scored a goal more (55) then Heerenveen in the season placing them at eighth above Heerenveen who finished 9th.
Groningen and Heerenveen finished 2016 on the same points (43), Groningen, on the other hand, scored a goal more (55) then Heerenveen in the season placing them at eighth above Heerenveen who finished 9th.
Written by Lungelo Mdladla for @Hollywoodbets.net
