Gameweek 6 of the Eredivisie sees Feyenoord, PSV and AZ all level at the top of the table. Week six kicks off this weekend on Saturday the 23rd of September.
The last round of fixtures saw table-toppers and defending champions, Feyenoord, suffering their first defeat of the season as PSV Eindhoven, who are in hot pursuit of the top spot, edged them 1-0. Roda’s losing streak continued as they anchor the table with early signs suggesting that relegation is imminent.
Twente recorded their first victory of the season, drubbing Utrecht 4-0 to put themselves on the cusp of surviving relegation but this week they are facing a sterner test against wounded Heracles who lost to Zwolle. So, what’s likely to happen in this week’s Eredivisie fixtures? Here are my predictions:
Saturday 23 September
2/1 Willem II | Draw 47/20 | Heerenveen 13/10 (18:30)
Encounters between these two sides have always been very intense and last season they each managed to collect three points from each other with Willem winning 2-1 at home and losing 2-1 away. Willem’s start to the season has been shambolic, losing their first four games only to register their first win last week. Have they turned the corner? Time will tell. Heerenveen remain undefeated this season with two draws in their first two games and three wins on the trot afterwards. Last week’s hard-fought 2-1 victory at Excelsior speaks to their character and strong mentality. I say Heerenveen get a narrow victory here.
2/13 Feyenoord | Draw 6/1 | NAC Breda 14/1 (19:45)
Feyenoord’s winning streak came to an abrupt halt last week as they succumbed to a 1-0 loss to second-placed PSV. The defending champions still top the standings on goal difference and I believe this is an easier fixture at home against lesser opposition. Breda collected their first three points of the campaign with a 2-1 success against Groningen last week. Before then, they had lost three and drawn one of their opening four fixtures. I think the wounded lion in Feyenoord will be too strong for them. Take Feyenoord on the (-1) Handicap at 9/20.
13/20 Heracles | Draw 3/1 | Roda JC 37/10 (19:45)
After getting their season off to a winning start with a shock 1-0 win over Ajax, Heracles have since drawn two and lost two games which is only enough to make them a midtable team. The team has so far failed to live up to their true potential and they currently occupy 10th place on the table. Roda have been everyone’s punching bag with five defeats in five matches. The Miners recently got drubbed 3-1 by fellow strugglers Willem II at home and I don’t see them managing to hold their own away at Polman Stadion. Back the home team on the (-1) Handicap at 31/20.
13/10 ADO Den Haag | Draw 47/20 | Sparta Rotterdam 39/20 (20:45)
Den Haag’s three-match losing streak ended two weeks ago when they won 2-1 at Willem II and they followed that up with a credible 1-1 draw against Ajax. Oozing with confidence, up next they play hosts to a team that is sort of on their level. Like everyone in the league, Sparta Rotterdam have played five matches so far and they have lost two, drawn two and won one. The Castle Lords currently lie 12th on the log and they will be looking not to be leapfrogged by 14th-placed Den Haag. This is likely to end in a stalemate.
Sunday 24 September
29/10 FC Utrecht | Draw 28/10 | PSV Eindhoven 8/10 (12:30)
Utrecht were involved in what I believe was the shock result of the round last week, getting trounced 4-0 by Twente. They have lost two and won three of their opening five matches. Nine out of a possible 15 points isn’t a bad return for a team of their calibre. PSV are high on confidence after managing to hand the table-topping defending champions Feyenoord a 1-0 defeat. They currently lie second on the standings, only due to inferior goal difference. Their task is simple, win your game and keep up. I foresee PSV grinding out a win.
3/10 Ajax | Draw 4/1 | Vitesse 9/1 (14:30)
This will be somewhat a clash of the round as sixth-placed Ajax host fifth-placed Vitesse. Slipping up in the title race and fight for UEFA Champions League spots is unimaginable for both sides. After cruising to three consecutive wins, Ajax were held to a 1-1 draw by Den Haag. Vitesse come into this one knowing that they have to at least avoid a defeat to stay above their opponents and not lose sight of the title contention. They have tasted defeat once so far in the season, understandably at the hands of third-placed AZ. They have won three matches and drawn one. I’m expecting Both Teams to Score at 8/10.
8/10 FC Groningen | Draw 26/10 | FC Twente 3/1 (14:30)
Groningen come into this fixture with only one win under their belt this season. They have been beaten twice and have drawn twice. The Green and White Army currently lies 11th on the log and they will be looking to collect maximum points against a team that’s on the cusp of resurgence. Prior to last week’s 4-0 win against Utrecht, Twente hadn’t played like a team that finished seventh last season – losing all their opening four matches. They are now high on confidence but whether they’ve turned the corner remains to be seen. I think this will be a tight one and putting your money on a Double Chance (Groningen + Twente) at 1/4 would a great idea.
12/10 VVV-Venlo | Draw 49/20 | PEC Zwolle 21/10 (14:30)
No one expected Venlo to have tasted defeat only once by this time but against all odds they have. But to be honest, except their defeat against Ajax and the credible 1-1 draw against Vitesse, the first couple of fixtures have been very kind to them – playing against lesser opponents. They have amassed eight out of a possible 15 points which is not bad for a team that has just regained promotion. Zwolle are in seventh place with 10 points after winning three, drawing one and losing one of their opening four matches. They will go into this match knowing that a win will see them possibly breaking into the top four or topping the standings, of course depending on the other results. The away team is tipped to win this one.
3/10 AZ Alkmaar | Draw 17/4 | Excelsior 7/1 (16:45)
AZ are undoubtedly the form team at the moment, being the only club with recent four straight wins. They lie third on the log with the same number of points as the table toppers but they have inferior goal difference. The only match they have lost so far is their league opener against PSV. Excelsior last won a league match on day one of the season when they beat second from bottom Willem II. They have since lost three and drawn once in the league. If they managed to beat AZ it would be the shock result of the round and I don’t think it will happen. Back AZ on the (-1) Handicap at 8/10.
TREBLE @ 4/1
PSV Win 8/10
Ajax vs Vitesse BTTS 8/10
AZ Alkmaar (-1) Handicap 8/10
