Eerste Divisie – Round 20
The Hague-De Graafschap, 12/01/24
A big match between third and fourth at the Bingoal Stadium in The Hague, where ADO aims for a third consecutive home victory. The yellow-green team is 2 points behind the second-placed Roda and relies on Veerman's goals (12 so far) to overtake. However, they should be wary of the challenging De Graafschap, with 18 points out of 33 earned away, winning 3 of the last 4 matches. The blue-whites are a solid team, having conceded the same number of goals as ADO (23) but struggle more in front of the goal (26 scored against 38). This difference, combined with the home advantage, could play a role. With caution, a home win is favored in a balanced match.
Dordrecht-Helmond, 12/01/24
Santoni's team ended 2023 on a high note, securing the fourth position with a 2-1 victory over Emmen. For an athletic team like Dordrecht, the break is uncertain, but their offensive potential is undeniable: 41 goals scored, the second-best attack in the Eerste Divisie. On the other hand, Helmond comes from a thrilling 3-3 draw against Roda and needs points to stay in the playoff zone, currently 6 points away. It's an open game, with at least 3 total goals expected, where Dordrecht's teamwork will face the scoring flair of Martijn Kaars, the current top scorer with 16 goals.
Cambuur-Maastricht, 12/01/24
The break came at the right time for Cambuur, who, after an impressive run (9 unbeaten games from mid-October to mid-December), stumbled with 2 unexpected losses against Jong Az and Den Bosch. If the Frisians aim for direct promotion (with an outstanding attack of 46 goals), they need to regain momentum. Maastricht, with 3 wins in the last 4 games, has revived their playoff aspirations, approaching -2 from the yellow-blacks. Koen Kostons (9 goals and 5 assists) is the key player for Maastricht. However, Cambuur's collective quality gives them confidence for a home win in a match where both teams could score.
Oss-Willem II, 12/01/24
A bottom-of-the-table clash in Oss, where the hosts will face the league leaders. On paper, it seems a one-sided affair, considering Willem II's impressive record of 6 wins in the last 7 games and 6 out of 8 away victories. The hard-fought 2-1 in the first leg feels distant, given the development of both teams. Oss also secured a 2-1 win against Venlo in their last home game. However, stopping Bokila and his teammates will be a tough task. Despite numerical superiority (45 points to 12, +23 goal difference against -21), Willem II might not secure a resounding victory due to Oss's decent defensive record, conceding only 8 goals in the last 7 games.
Roda-Eindhoven, 12/01/24
A late surge by Ould Chikh allowed Roda to end the year with a smile (3-3 against Helmond). Sidum's team is on a positive streak, holding onto the second position but needs to be cautious of ADO Den Haag. Friday could be favorable for Roda, facing a tenacious Eindhoven side (unbeaten in 5 matches, just one point away from the playoffs, with the second-best away performance). However, Eindhoven has struggled to make a significant breakthrough this season. Roda, overcoming a phase of natural decline, seems rejuvenated, especially in attack. A hard-fought game is expected, potentially tight, but with a home win in the long run.
Telstar-Jong Az, 12/01/24
A tough moment for Telstar, second to last with 7 losses in the last 9 games. Apart from Eddahchouri's flashes (10 goals), the red-blue team seems to lack the technical means to rise from a lower-tier league. On the other hand, Jong Az, particularly Alkmaar's team, has achieved prestigious results throughout the season, including a notable 2-1 away win against Cambuur. Among the Jong teams, Alkmaar is the most favored and can compete for a top-10 spot, thanks to a daring playing style. It's an open match, with possibilities of a home or away win, and a draw could be a random outcome considering the guests' tendency to play aggressively and Telstar's need to collect maximum points.
Emmen-Breda , 13/01/24
After a dark December (4 defeats in as many games), Emmen needs to reset and resume the promotion race. The direct clash against Breda could be a turning point; another defeat would push the white-red team out of the playoff zone. Despite high ambitions, Coach Grim has requested a right-back and a striker from the transfer market, indicating a need to strengthen the squad. The stakes are also high for the visitors, who, after 4 consecutive victories, failed against ADO and Willem II, arguably the toughest opponents at the moment. However, Breda, just one point behind Emmen, is in good form and has a technical leader (Domink Janosek, 8 goals and 5 assists) that the hosts lack. Expect a high-paced game with both teams finding the net.
Jong Utrecht-Venlo 15/01/24 CET 20:00
The home unbeaten streak of Jong Utrecht crumbled in the final stretch, overwhelmed by Eindhoven (2-5) in the last home game of 2023. Rijks and his team are coming off 3 consecutive defeats and aim to turn things around on familiar ground. However, the technical level remains significantly lower than that of Venlo, a team stuck in mid-table but with clear postseason aspirations. The recent 3 losses in the last 4 away games are not the best indicators, but the new year might bring a change. It's a match to approach cautiously, given the inconsistency of the visitors. If Kruys' team plays well, considering the 4-1 result in the first leg, they might secure the win.
Jong PSV-Den Bosch 15/01/24 CET 20:00
A clash with a high instability factor takes place in Eindhoven. Jong PSV has not won in 6 games, even though the last one seemed secured before Ajax made a comeback with 2 late goals. Den Bosch, three points below (15 points, third to last), is boosted by the unexpected victory against Cambuur (3-1) that concluded the blue-white team's 2023. Neither team has much to lose, both sharing evident and somewhat similar technical limitations: they have the two worst defenses in the Eerste Divisie (41 goals conceded against 40). Expect a high-scoring game with an uncertain outcome.