Eerste Divisie – Round 26
Cambuur vs. Jong Utrecht - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
The hosts, coming off a heartbreak against Venlo (3-3 in the 91st minute), with only one win in their last 5 matches, must secure a win on Friday to avoid losing further ground in the playoff race. On paper, the numbers favor the Frisians, superior to their opponents in every aspect of the game - especially in attack: 56 goals scored against 20. Jong Utrecht, away from home, is the worst team in the league, with a record streak of 30 winless games – their last victory dates back to January 6, 2023. Everything suggests a clear victory for Cambuur, unless they trip over themselves, as they did against the modest Oss a few weeks ago. They must learn from that experience.
Den Bosch vs. Jong AZ - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
Den Bosch's unbeaten streak ended in The Hague (3-0), after 5 consecutive games without defeat – the last 3 without conceding goals. Now, they face the opposite problem: they haven't scored in 365 minutes. They will be tasked with breaking this drought against the in-form Jong AZ, fresh off a 2-1 win in Utrecht and sitting in seventh place. Leeroy Echteld's side has improved their away performances, with 4 wins in their last 7 matches. Friday's game is expected to be fiercely contested, as Den Bosch has recently found tactical balance. However, considering the significant numerical difference - 38 points to 19, -1 versus -21 goal difference - a draw or an away win seems likely.
Dordrecht vs. Venlo - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
Dordrecht suffered a humbling defeat at Roda (4-1), despite trailing by only one goal until the 87th minute, which saw them slip further away from the top positions. Santoni's men continue to feel the psychological burden of stepping up - a challenge they've failed to meet on at least 3-4 occasions. However, they remain one of the best teams in the Eerste Divisie, both in terms of goals scored (48) and overall performance. Venlo, having survived a tough away game in Leeuwarden (3-3), aims to catch up with Dordrecht at 40 points with a potential victory. Expect an open contest with high intensity, likely resulting in at least 3 total goals.
Helmond vs. De Graafschap - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
Helmond's crisis continues, with a defeat at Telstar (3-2), further distancing them from the top positions. For Kaars and his teammates, there has been only one victory in their last 9 matches - they need a turnaround, but facing De Graafschap will be tough. The blue and whites are coming off a defeat against Willem II (0-2) but are eager and equipped for a swift recovery, especially considering their strong away record - 7 victories. The gap with the second place (-6) has become significant again. There are too many factors favoring a De Graafschap win or draw. However, considering that Kaars has finally found his scoring form (18 goals in the Eerste Divisie), Helmond may still find the net.
Oss vs. Jong Ajax - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
Oss fell short against Groningen in the last matchday (3-0). The white and reds face a tough challenge at home against in-form Jong Ajax, who confidently defeated Maastricht (3-0) and have suffered only one loss in their last 13 games. With Gabriel Misehouy (7 goals and 3 assists) leading the charge, Jong Ajax have been a dominant force, particularly in the final third: 40 goals scored compared to Oss's 16. While Oss has shown improvement lately, winning 3 of their last 7 matches, the physical and qualitative gap in favor of Amsterdam's team remains significant. Expect a draw or a Jong Ajax win, but they must be cautious in defense.
Roda vs. Emmen - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
Roda secured a convincing victory against Dordrecht, staying in touch with the direct promotion zone. Bas Sibum's men delivered one of their best performances of the season when it mattered most. However, they must maintain this momentum against a struggling Emmen side, defeated by Jong PSV (3-0) and enduring a poor run with just one point in their last 8 matches. Despite their results, the recently relegated club has chosen to stick with their coach Grim, but a response is needed soon. While Roda faces a tougher task than expected, as Emmen remains a quality team, they could cautiously anticipate a yellow and black victory in the long run.
Telstar vs. Breda - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
There was joy in Telstar as they defeated Helmond (3-2), climbing off the bottom of the table. The debut for the Correia-Landvreugd partnership was successful, and El Kachati and his teammates must continue playing with the same lightness. Breda, amidst a tightly contested playoff race, managed only one victory in their last 6 matches - a recent draw against Eindhoven (2-2) saw them let slip a 2-0 lead. Despite Janosek's impressive performances (10 goals and 5 assists), Breda faces a challenging away game. Given the importance of the match, confidence leans towards a draw or Breda's victory.
Willem II vs. Ado Den Haag - 16/02/24 CET 19:00
First versus second, a top-of-the-table clash with Eredivisie promotion implications: Willem II vs. Ado Den Haag is the highlight of this round. Both teams come into the match in good form: Tilburg secured a crucial victory against De Graafschap (0-2) after a month-long drought, while Ado comfortably defeated Den Bosch (3-0). With a five-point gap between them, Willem II remains unbeaten in 12 matches and appears mentally stronger. On the other hand, Ado relies on Henk Veerman's scoring prowess (16 goals) and their ability to produce big results. Expect a balanced game between two teams with similar technical qualities; the first leg ended 1-1, and Friday's match could see a low-to-medium scoring affair with both teams finding the net.
Eindhoven vs. Groningen - 18/02/24 CET 15:45
Eindhoven salvaged a late draw against Breda (2-2), securing their second consecutive draw after a seven-game winless streak. However, the real test awaits in the late fixture against Groningen, where they must deliver a flawless performance. The Green-Whites have won 11 of their last 13 official matches, including a penalty shootout victory against Sittard in the Dutch Cup quarterfinals. Lukkien's side is currently the team in form and could use this top-of-the-table clash to narrow the gap with second place.
It's an opportunity they can't afford to miss: confidence leans towards a Groningen victory, potentially a draw at best.