Eerste Divisie – Round 19

15/12/23

Cambuur-Jong Az
With the wind in their sails, the Frisians are capable of conquering even De Graafschap's field (2-3) and achieving their ninth consecutive positive result with a barrage of goals. Coach de Jong has reactivated the qualities of a team built for direct promotion: a month ago, it seemed like a mirage, but now it's only 4 points away. However, they need to raise the bar at home, where Cambuur has the ninth performance in the league and is coming off two consecutive draws. On Friday, a great opportunity for redemption arrives because Jong Az, without invoking their well-known away struggles (5 points in 8 games), is going through the most delicate moment of their season: they haven't scored in three matches, and the absence of Jayden Addai (9 goals), shifted to the first team, is increasingly felt. Therefore, confidence in a home win, potentially with a handicap, and in the over.

Den Bosch-De Graafschap
At least the standings are moving: two consecutive draws against Jong Ajax (3-3) and Jong Az (0-0) have given a morale boost to the fragile Den Bosch, currently second to last and without a win in 11 games. As we reach the halfway point, the club's leadership acknowledges poor planning: beyond Kaczper Kostorz (7 goals and 4 assists), there is a void. On the other hand, De Graafschap needs playoff points and is in the thick of the top group (2 points behind third place, 3 ahead of ninth). The guests have collected only one point in the last two direct confrontations and are now called to get a result against a beatable opponent. We see the way team winning, without expecting a landslide.

Ado Den Haag-Breda
A new big match takes place in The Hague after the 1-1 draw last weekend between Ado and league leader Willem II. A bitter draw for Veerman and his teammates, who were defeated in the 95th minute. With only one win in the last 5 tough fixtures, revenge is sought. At the same time, Breda, with four consecutive victories, has climbed to 31 points, joining the standings. With van Gastel on the bench, the team sets no limits and faces its first real test of maturity. For both teams, winning would mean chasing the second position: home advantage and experience favor Ado, while momentum and Dominik Janosek's strikes favor the visitors. An open game, with goals and on the edge of the over.

Emmen-Roda
It's another direct clash at the top of this round. Emmen is in a dark moment, having repeated a crash defeat against Willem II and throwing away a 2-1 lead in Eindhoven a week later, eventually losing 3-2. Signs of worrying nervous breakdowns surround a team that otherwise has little to envy from its competitors. The good news? By beating Roda, Emmen would catch up and end the first half of the season in the promotion zone. On the contrary, it would be a total punishment for Roda, which led for large parts of the championship. Roda is only slightly better off (barely winning 2-1 against Jong Psv last time), but they haven't won away since September 9. The match is evenly balanced; both teams scoring is likely, but seeing more than 3-4 goals in total would be a surprise.

Jong Psv-Jong Ajax
Jong Psv has earned only one point in the last 5 matches, even falling behind the resurgent Jong Ajax, who jumped from 6 points after 12 games to 20. The "derby" between the most sought-after youth academies in the Netherlands always tells its own story, tends to produce a rain of goals (5-4 was the last result), and both teams play to win rather than not lose. The scenario is unstable, and a draw would be a matter of chance. Keeping in mind that the home team is wounded and the guests are in top form, the match is unpredictable.

Jong Utrecht-Eindhoven
Having suffered a narrow defeat at de Toekomst (2-1), Jong Utrecht tries to catch their breath, ending the first half of the season at home, where they have been a guarantee so far with 4 wins, 4 draws, the fewest goals conceded (best home defense in Eerste Divisie), and zero losses (the only unbeaten team at home). Breaking this streak falls on Eindhoven, who, after a sensational comeback against Emmen (3-2), suddenly finds themselves back in the playoff race. The away team has already won 4 times, but the last victory was almost two months ago. The match has a high level of uncertainty, potentially unlocked by a specific event: the defenses of both teams are better than their attacks. For those who believe in records, continuing to trust the Jong teams might be reasonable.

Maastricht-Groningen
To make a solid analysis, a third clue is missing. However, with two consecutive victories, including one against Helmond, Maastricht is starting to consider the playoffs. The tight standings and the match against eighth-placed Groningen, 6 points ahead, offer the red-and-white team a chance to play their cards, starting with Koen Kostons (7 goals and 5 assists). However, watch out for the momentum of the visitors, who have won four in a row and are finally returning to the top areas they belong to. Considering the technical gap between the two squads, with Groningen working well as a team without relying on solo performances, an away win, possibly a narrow one, could be expected.

Oss-Venlo
Oss is still in the dark, having suffered another defeat in Breda (2-0) and now firmly sitting at the bottom of the standings. This is their seventh loss in the last eight matches. The team hasn't scored in over 500 minutes, nullifying a decent defensive phase (only 4 goals conceded in the last 5 matches) and an improved home performance in recent weeks. Venlo should take advantage of this situation, reinvigorated by a heavy victory against Dordrecht (3-1). With another 3 points, Kosidis and his teammates would keep pace with the crowded playoff train. A minimal result, given the club's objectives, but the underwhelming performance so far has more misfortunes than excuses. Not winning in Oss would eliminate any excuses, so yes to the away win, although considering the circumstances, a high score is not expected.

Telstar-Dordrecht
Both teams have only recorded one victory in their last six matches, but with completely different nuances. The home team has resigned itself to a mid-to-low table finish - at best, they would currently be in the third-to-last position. Dordrecht, on the other hand, has almost double the points (27-14), experiencing its best season in a long time but risking missing out on the playoff zone at the halfway point - partly due to a natural dip for a team that always plays at full throttle. Santoni's team won't be any less determined against Telstar, where a draw would be of little use. The same goes for the red-and-blue team, called to redeem themselves after the embarrassing 1- 5 defeat against Willem II. An open game, yes to the over.

Willem II-Helmond
Some draws are worth their weight in gold, and the last-minute 1-1 secured in The Hague is undoubtedly one of them for Willem II. The league leader is now +4 ahead of second place and +7 ahead of third. After a shaky start, becoming winter champions with a game to spare feels like a half miracle. Now, Bokila and his teammates are the team to beat, especially in Tilburg, where Willem II has won 8 out of 9 matches. Helmond, however, has nothing to lose, stung by an unexpected home defeat (1-2) against Maastricht and with 4 losses in the last 5 games. Kaars (15 goals) remains a danger, but at this rate, reaching the playoffs becomes challenging. The script suggests a home win, with particular attention to goals: Willem II will still have to contend with the league's top scorer.