Eerste Divisie, Round 27
Matchday 27 Preview, 23,/02/2024, CET 19:00
Groningen continues to shine, deserving praise for their upcoming home game against Helmond. Willem II-Roda promises to be a close match with a tendency towards under goals, while Jong Ajax and Cambuur matches are likely to be high-scoring affairs. Ado Den Haag and De Graafschap face a more challenging home redemption than anticipated.
De Graafschap vs. Den Bosch
The last round significantly dampened De Graafschap's ambitions, falling to Helmond at home (3-1) while their competitors all won. Vreman's men must rev up their engines to keep their hopes of direct promotion alive, especially against Den Bosch away. It's a tougher match than the 43-20 point difference suggests; the visitors are part of the bottom trio but have lost only one of their last seven games. Despite this, the stakes favor a home win, perhaps after a challenging 90 minutes with a medium-low scoreline. De Graafschap averages fewer than 1.5 goals per game at home, while Den Bosch hasn't scored in 455 total minutes, with four goalless draws in their last five matches.
Den Haag vs. Maastricht
Ado woke up late after their defeat in Tilburg last weekend (2-1). Losing not only cost them the second spot but also the chance to close in on the top. It's a setback they need to quickly overcome within a relatively positive run of form—6 wins in their last 8 games. On Friday, they face a defensively confused Maastricht side, having conceded 6 goals in their last 2 matches but still within a point of the playoff zone. The script favors the home team, especially considering their clear 3-0 victory in the previous encounter. However, the visitors have shown improvement, especially in scoring, suggesting a potentially high-scoring game.
Emmen vs. Cambuur
Emmen faced bitter disappointment as they were overturned by Roda in stoppage time (from 1-2 to 3-2), extending their winless streak to nine games, including 8 losses. Fred Grim's hot seat is getting hotter, with a demoralized team and a poor position in the standings—12th place, on the brink of relegation. On the other hand, Cambuur's form has been erratic: thrashed by Jong Utrecht (2-4) before securing a crucial win against Breda (1-2). While Cambuur boasts the league's best attack (60 goals scored), they also have the second-worst defense (52 conceded), putting them in playoff contention only if they improve defensively. It's an unpredictable match, but with both teams likely to score, given their characteristics.
Groningen vs. Helmond
With 8 wins in their last 9 official matches, including two recent 3-0 victories, Groningen is also in the race for direct promotion, currently trailing by 6 points. The green-and-whites are gaining momentum, displaying maturity and determination. However, they face a rejuvenated Helmond side, fresh from a convincing 3-1 win over De Graafschap. Despite Helmond's resurgence, Groningen's impressive goal-scoring record suggests another victory is within reach.
Venlo vs. Eindhoven
Despite a spirited performance against Dordrecht, Venlo suffered a 1-0 defeat, slipping out of the top eight once again. Consistency has been lacking for Venlo this season, although they have won their last four home games. Eindhoven, on the other hand, is in a deep crisis with no wins in their last eight matches. However, their away record is relatively solid with only 3 losses in 13 games. Expect a closely contested match with a low to medium scoreline, though Venlo slightly edges as favorites.
Willem II vs. Roda
For the second consecutive weekend, Willem II faces the second-placed team. After defeating Ado last weekend, they now encounter a Roda side buoyed by two consecutive wins, including a thrilling 3-2 victory over Emmen. Looking at recent form, Willem II has amassed 14 more points and 18 more goals than Roda. However, knockout matches can be unpredictable, and Roda has shown resilience before. Expect a hard-fought encounter with Willem II ultimately favored for the win, likely with a total of three goals or fewer.
Jong Ajax vs. Telstar 26/02/2024, CET 19:00
Jong Ajax stumbled against Oss, losing 2-1 away, ending a long streak of good results. They return home to face another bottom team, Telstar, who have shown improvement under the new coaching setup with 4 points in 2 games. Both teams have little to lose and rely on physical stamina, with Telstar performing better in the first half recently, and Jong Ajax stronger in the second. Expect an open game with a medium to high scoreline due to defensive lapses from both sides.
Jong AZ vs. Breda 26/02/2024, CET 19:00
Jong AZ, playing for honor since they wouldn't qualify for playoffs, have lost only once in their last 8 games, climbing several positions in the standings, while Breda is experiencing a downturn with 5 winless games, despite Dominik Janosek's exceptional performances. The pressure will be on Breda, but Jong AZ won't make it easy. Expect an uncertain outcome, potentially favoring either the home or away side.
Jong PSV vs. Dordrecht, 26/02/2024, CET 19:00
Jong PSV comes off a thrilling 3-3 draw against Maastricht, showing signs of improvement with a potent attack but a leaky defense. Dordrecht responded well after their loss in Kerkrade, securing a valuable 1-0 win over Venlo, propelling them back to fifth place. Expect a high-paced game with both teams aiming for goals, despite Dordrecht being considered favorites due to their technical superiority.
Jong Utrecht vs. Oss, 26/02/2024, CET 19:00
Both Jong Utrecht and Oss surprised as underdogs in the last round. Jong Utrecht ended a 13-month away win drought with a shocking 4-2 victory over Cambuur, while Oss defeated Jong Ajax 2-1 away, marking their fourth win in the last 8 matches. With similar points and defensive vulnerabilities, expect an open game with uncertain outcomes, likely favoring the home team due to their decent home record. However, goals may not be plentiful despite the attacking potential of both sides.