Category Archives: BETTING TIPS

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE BET OF THE WEEK: Ajax to find it easy in Groningen

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FC GRONINGEN vs. AJAX

Hitachi Capital Mobility Stadion | Sunday 4th October 2020 | 11:15 GMT

UK TV – Premier Sports 2

Ajax have won three in three so far in the Eredivisie and Will Burns sees that continuing on Sunday morning.

Kudus Mohammed sets up match-winner for 10-man Ajax against Vitesse - Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results - GHANAsoccernet
Antony and Mohammed Kudus have been impressive so far for Erik ten Hag’s Ajax.

The Amsterdammers, with the maximum nine points, had enough quality to see off the challenge of Vitesse last weekend, despite being down to ten men for the second half.

Defender Edson Alvarez was dismissed just before the break for a what was deemed a dangerous foul on Luis Openda. However, a goal from Brazilian wonderkid Antony grabbed all three points for Ajax after some great link-up play between the Brazilian and fellow newcomer Mohammed Kudus.

The pair have been a revelation in Erik ten Hag’s side so far and personally can’t wait to see them match up with the likes of PSV and Feyenoord, as well as Ajax’s upcoming Champions League mouthwatering ties against FC Midtjylland, Atalanta and Liverpool.

The hopes of FC Groningen were high in pre-season after signing Dutch legend Arjen Robben, however the 37-year-old went off injured in the opening game and they have failed to get to grips with the league this year.

They fell to a 3-1 defeat to PSV, before squeezing past ADO 1-0 and FC Twente stuck another three past this last weekend in a 3-1 defeat. I see Ajax pushing the Trots van het Noorden to the limit and we could easily see the Amsterdammers stick three of four past goalkeeper Sergio Padt.

PREDICTION

I cannot see anything but an win for Erik ten Hag’s men and with some ease. We need them to win by two clear goals (or more) for out bet here with is best priced at Boyle Sports, as of time of writing.

Ajax to win -1 (2.10 at Boyle Sports)

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, EUROPA LEAGUE, EUROPA LEAGUE PREVIEW

Europa League Preview & Betting Tips – Willem II vs. Rangers

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WILLEM II vs. RANGERS

Koning Willem II Stadion | Thursday 24th September | 20:00 GMT

UK TV: Rangers TV

The next stage of Europa League qualifying does not get any easier for Adrie Koster’s Willem II as Scottish giants Rangers and Stevie Gerrard roll into Tilburg this Thursday night writes Will Burns.

Until this past weekend when they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian, Rangers have impressed this season domestically. They failed to concede a goal in the Scottish Premiership in seven games in a row which broke a 114-year record. Despite a goal-less draw away to Livingston, Gerrard’s men won each of their seven games prior to this past Sunday contest at Easter Road.

When you look at their opponents until they let a goal in, they played Aberdeen (1-0), St. Mirren (3-0), St. Johnstone (3-0), Livingston (0-0), Kilmarnock (2-0), Hamilton Academicals (2-0) and Dundee United (4-0). In addition, they blasted Gibraltarian side Lincoln Red Imps by a 5-0 scoreline. However, looking at each of those opponents, are they seriously on par with Willem II.

Well, I think not. I have watched a lot of Rangers this year and I see Adrie Koster’s team capable of notching a goal. Against Hibs, the back four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Borna Barisic failed to pick up on Drey Wright on Sunday as he slotted home well inside the area.

For the Tilburgers, the past two games have seen them score nine goals without reply, however against opposition less likely to cause them as much trouble as Rangers could on Thursday night. Last week, Progress Niederkorn saw five sail in as Heracles lost 4-0 and one man on the scoresheet both games were Greek goalgetter Vangelis Pavlidis.

Willem II-spits Pavlidis lust Rangers rauw: 'De Grieken zijn on fire' | Voetbal | Telegraaf.nl
Greek goal machine Vangelis Pavlidis is the Willem II’s biggest threat in front of goal.

I see the Greek international as being Rangers main worry especially when you see the ease of Christian Doidge rising above Helander at the back post on Sunday for Hibs second goals. Pavlidis has scored a brace in both games this past week and had one ruled offside in the opening game against Heerenveen.

Can Willem II defeat Rangers, I am unsure, but I feel they’ll get a goal and Pavlidis is the man to get it.

PREDICTION

Pavlidis has scored four goals in the last two games and Willem II are superior opponents to the usual teams that Rangers run out against. At over 2/1 at Betfair and Paddy Power, I see that as being our best chances for profit in this match.

Vangelis Pavlidis to score (3.10 at Betfair/Paddy Power)

Good luck if you’re betting.

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

Eredivisie Saturday – Double Dutch Betting Tips

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After being let down last week by Willem II (not scoring against Heerenveen, but managed to bang five in mid-week! Grrrr!), Will Burns has picked himself up, dusted off and selected a ‘Double Dutch’ bet for this weekend’s games.

VITESSE vs. SPARTA ROTTERDAM

Gelredome | Saturday 19th September | 17:45 GMT

Vitesse got off to great start last weeknd with an opening day 1-0 win away to relegation favourites RKC Waalwijk. Their opening home game see Henk Fraser’s Sparta Rotterdam roll into Arnhem and the head coach has a good record against Vitesse, a team he managed in 2016 for two years.

In the past six head-to-head clashes with the Vitas, he racked up two wins and three draws, losing just once, however it is goals is where we are looking for part one of the Double Dutch, because of course my motto is… HISTORY MEANS NOTHING!

On week one, Sparta hosted Ajax and alhough they were defeated 1-0 (and the Amsterdammers were down to ten men in the first half), it was a valiant performance that could have seen the oldest club in the Netherlands.

Sparta forced 14 shots at Andre Onana in the Ajax goal, although only three landed on target, but this included eight shots inside the area. They managed to create the chances and I see them creating many against Vitesse on Saturday night.

Vitesse on the other hand managed to get six of their 17 shots on target and hit the back of the net with one. At home, at the Gelredome, despite minimal fans or not… they should see plenty chances too.

I predict a shootout!

PREDICTION

We don’t have much of a dataset to go off but I think this is a good play. Vitesse conceded a goal in all but one of their pre-season games, while scoring in each one, and they played seven of them. As for Sparta, Henk Fraser’s men scored and conceeded in four of their last four warm-up games.

I can see both notching here.

Both Teams to Score (1.61 at bet365)

PSV vs. FC EMMEN

Phillips Stadion | Saturday 19th September | 19:00 GMT

I really like this game for goals on Saturday evening as PSV Eindhoven, under Roger Schmidt face FC Emmen in their opening home game in Eindhoven.

FC Emmen were a proper Jeckyl and Hyde last weekend, going 2-0 up at home to VVV-Venlo then forgot how to defend conceding five losing 5-3 by the full-time whistle was blown.

Anyone thinking FC Emmen can contain Donyell Malen, Cody Gakpo (read more about him here) and youngster Noni Madueke, who is set to start now that Sam Lammers has secured his move to Serie A side Atalanta, are mad. I can see PSV dominating in this encounter, winning by a few goals.

PREDICTION

Emmen conceded five last weekend at home to VVV-Venlo. PSV are back at the Philips Stadion in Roger Schmidt’s first competitive game, I see the lads from Eindhoven smashing the underdogs for a few goals but let’s play safe and take -1 on the handicap.

If PSV win by two clear goals, we win.

PSV -1.5 (1.55 at Bet365)

Week two of Double Dutch. Let’s see if the two picks below romp in this weekend. it is best priced at bet365, good luck if you’re betting and most of all, enjoy the games.

Vitesse-Sparta Both Teams to Score and PSV -1 vs. FC Emmen (2.50 at Bet365)

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

Eredivisie Bet Of The Week: Back PSV’s Cody to continue form against Emmen

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Welcome to a new feature, the Eredivisie Bet Of The Week. Will Burns selects his best bet for the weekend’s action and we take our first venture into the goalscorer markets.

PSV vs. FC EMMEN

Phillips Stadion | Saturday 19th September | 19:00 GMT

So PSV pulled off a great result away to FC Groningen last weekend and will be looking to do a carbon copy to last campaign where they went nine games without defeat in the league, winning seven.

This weekend they face a home opener against FC Emmen and last weekend they conceded five goals at home to VVV-Venlo so I can see PSV breaching the Emmen with ease on Saturday evening (7pm BST kick-off)

One man that has impressed me since he was a youngster in the U19’s and Jong PSV is Cody Gakpo and what a start to the season he has made. The winger scored a double in last week’s 3-1 win and in pre-season scored four in five warm-up games against FC Uerdingen, Vitesse, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin.

I looked at the goalscorer markets and Bet365 have him priced up at a high 2.60 to score anytime. Get on that for our Eredivisie Bet of the Week.

BET OF THE WEEK: Cody Gakpo to score anytime (2.60 at bet365)

Keep your eyes open for our Double Dutch bet for Sunday’s games.

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, EUROPA LEAGUE, EUROPA LEAGUE PREVIEW

Europa League Preview & Betting Tips – Progres Niederkorn vs. Willem II

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FC PROGRES NIEDERKORN vs. WILLEM II

Stade Municipal de la Ville de Differdange | Wednesday 16th September | 17:30 GMT

After a twenty-year absence Willem II look to enter European competition this time round however, they have Luxembourg side FC Progres Niederkorn standing in their way on the road to the Europa League writes Will Burns.

Adrie Koster’s Willem II surprised a lot of pundits last year firing their way up to fifth in the Eredivisie, their highest finish since their runner-up place in 1998/99. One of the main reasons for the rapid progression was the goals of Vangelis Pavlidis.

The Greek striker notched 13 goals in 28 games in all competitions last season before the Eredivisie were forced to curtail the campaign due to the global pandemic. If Koster’s men are to replicate the efforts of last year, then he will have to be on top form.

Of course, a striker cannot score goals on his own and the help he received from fellow attacking players Mats Kohlert, Che Nunnely and Mike Tresor does not go uncounted. Each guy took the burden off the striker scoring goals (6, 5 and 9 respectively) and provided a total of 17 assists between them.

Some more aid was inputted into the squad squad this week as Ghanaian winger John Yeboah arrived on a three-year deal from VfL Wolfsburg.

Vangelis Pavlidis: il nueve-diez proveniente dall'Ellade | Numero Diez
Greek goalgetter Vangelis Pavlidis.

Unfortunately, I don’t think we will see goalscorer markets in the UK but Pavlidis to score anytime would have been my best bet in this one.

The Tilburgers’ opponents tomorrow evening will be Luxembourg side FC Progres Niederkorn, who people in the UK may remember held Steven Gerrard’s Rangers to a goal-less draw in last season’s second qualifying round and knocked the Scottish giants out of the competition in 2017-18.

This will indeed be the fourth years in a row that Niederkorn attempt to qualify for the Europa League group stages. In 2017-18, after shocking Rangers, the Luxembourgers fell to AEL Limassol. They went one better the year after falling at the third hurdle after defeating Azerbaijani outfit Gabala and Hungarians’ Honved, they were narrowily defeated 4-3 on aggrerate against Russians FC Ufa.

Last year, they emerged victors against Cardiff Metropolitian University on away goals rules in the first round then beat Cork City from Ireland by 3-2 before Rangers got revenge at Ibrox.

They are certainly no slouches at this stage in the tournament and easily defeated FK Zeta of Albania by 3-0 in the one-legged ties that have been introduced this year, which changes the perception of the games.

In a two-leg affair, it is less likely to cause a shock. If you win one game, the likelihood of upsetting the favourites twice is doubtful. This time round, Willem II will need to be wary of that.

PREDICTION

I do not think this match as easy as a lot of people think and I think this could be a close one with the hosts getting a goal.

Willem II should have enough quality to see their opponents off (then again so did the 2017 Rangers side) but I feel the underdogs will definitely get a goal. Niederkorn has scored in every game since October 2019 so they are surely good for a goal here.

Willem II win with Both Teams to Score (3.00 at bet365)

Good luck if you’re betting.

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Champions League Preview & Betting Tips – Dynamo Kyiv vs. AZ Alkmaar

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DYNAMO KYIV vs. AZ ALKMAAR

Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex | Tuesday 15th September | 18:00 GMT

In the biggest game for the club in recent history, AZ Alkmaar travel to the Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League Third Round of Qualifying. Will Burns feels like AZ may not have what it takes to beat the Ukrainian giants… unfortunately.

After the disappointment of calling the season off early last March, when AZ looked to becoming the champions of Eredivisie, Arne Slot’s men had the prospect of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League to pick them back up.

However, on Tuesday night, they travel to the Ukraine to face Dynamo Kiev, a true force for decades in this home country and European competitions. This is the third round of qualifying and it’s certainly not easy.

AZ were given a reprieve this weekend as the KNVB, committed to aiding their clubs in European tournaments, cancelled their opening game to FC Utrecht, so that Slot and his team can concentrate on this one legged fixture.

In the last round, AZ made hard work of their home tie against Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen. A 95th minute penalty which was scored by Teun Koopmeiners, saved their blushes and took the game into extra time at the 1-1 scoreline. Two extra time goals by Albert Gudmundsson saw Alkmaar send the Czech home unhappy but it was far from convincing. If they have any chance on Tuesday, they will need to vastly improve.

We asked Zorya Londonsk’s Andrew Todos about AZ’s opponents on Tuesday and he gave us a tremendous insight into their recent form, tactics and star players. Well worth a read.

Recently Dynamo has embarked on their new Ukrainian Premier League campaign and are undefeated in three games since the season kicked off. The opening day of the league saw Kiev easily defeating Olimpik Donetsk by a 4-1 scoreline. Then they lifted the domestic Super Cup beating rivals Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 before drawing a 0-0 blank against title challengers Desna.

In addition, we heard (below) that Kiev’s star player Viktor Tsyhakov did not train on Monday and that could spell that he will be unavailable.

We all know there is a four tremendous goal threats at Slot’s disposal with Myron Boadu, Oussama Idrissi, Teun Koopmeiners and Calvin Stengs were all capable of double figures last season.

I think it is a big ask to say that AZ will win on Tuesday, and don’t get me wrong, they could, but Kiev are a strong team. One thing I am sure of, is that I feel AZ could get a goal. Our colleague Andrew Todos wrote: “Dynamo have serious defensive issues. First choice right back – Oleksandr Tymchyk was subbed off inside 35 minutes vs Desna with a groin injury. He will be out for a while. Similarly, centre backs Mykyta Burda and Denys Popov are also unavailable for a prolonged amount of time.”

Koopmeiners: "Dit is ons doel en boem, we gaan ervoor"
Captain Koopmeiners is an excellent penalty taker.

AZ captain Teun Koopmeiners is always good for a goal notching 16 in all competitions last year and he takes AZ’ spot kicks too. For a high pressure match like this, we could see one of Kyiv’s defenders go in the tricky feet of Boadu, Stengs or Idrissi allowing Koopmeiners a chance to notch

PREDICTIONS

So I have selected two bets for Tuesday night’s big game. Both Teams to Score is best priced at 1.80 at bet365 and if we see an AZ penalty, like the last round, Koopmeiners will score it. He is a HUGE price of 5.60 at Unibet but keep an eye out any other bookies pricing this up before kick off – just in case we see a higher price. The bookies struggle with these games.

Both Teams to Score (1.80 at bet365)

Teun Koopmeiners to score (5.60 at Unibet)

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

Eredivisie Saturday – Double Dutch Betting Tips

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It’s finally here!  The new Eredivisie is set to get underway this afternoon with a barnburner at the Abe Lenstra Stadion as Heerenveen take on last years’ highflyers Willem II. Will Burns has picked his ‘Double Dutch’ bet for tonights game.

SC HEERENVEEN vs. WILLEM II

Abe Lenstra Stadion | Saturday 12th September | 17:45 GMT

Ahhh yes, we have football back and I see Heerenveen-Willem II meeting as a good start to the affairs.

Heerenveen have strengthened this week by bringing in Polish centre-back Pawel Bochniewicz from Gornik Zabrze for around £1.26m, using some of the funds that CSKA Moscow provided for Chidere Ejuke earlier this summer. Additionally, they brought in German-Brazilian left-winger Oliver Batista Meier on loan from Bayern Munich to fill Ejuke’s boots.

Heerenveen’s new lads – Oliver Batista Meier and Pawel Bochniewicz

Bringing back Henk Veerman to the club is a bonus for Johnny Jansen’s side. Last season, he notched 11 goals in 22 games last year for St. Pauli in the 2. Bundesliga. Standing at 6ft 5inches, he is a handful to defenders and won an average of 3.6 headed duels per game. With Mitchell van Bergen (profiled in our season preview) on the wing, big Henk should see some crosses coming his way often.

Willem II powered up to fifth in the division last year under Adrie Koster mainly due to the success of Greek striker Vangelis Pavilidis. He bagged in 11 goals in the 2019-20 curtailed season and is always worth a shout to get a goal for the Tilburgers.

Koster’s mind in this match may be elsewhere as on Wednesday evening, they have a tricky Europa League qualifying tie at home to Progress Niedercorn of Luxembourg. Koster stated earlier this week that his side were “ready for competition” but his treatment table is full with wounded players at this time.

New signings, Kwasi Okyere Wriedt and Leeroy Owusu both nursing long-term injuries and Driess Saddiki only returned to training this week. Koster has also declared to the press this week that Justin Ogenia, Rick Zuijderwijk and Dylan Ryan are not match-fit and may miss todays’ game.

This leaves his side depleted in a game I would have possibly predicted them to win.

PREDICTION

Pre-season did not look good for sc Heerenveen losing all six of their warm-up games, however they were lacking defenders and now they have them installed into their squad. But the new central defensive partnership will take time to gel so I do see Johnny Jansen’s men conceding.  In attack, with van Bergen, van der Heide, Batista Meier and big Henk Veermen they have the talent to score. Let’s add Both Teams to Score to our Double Dutch bet.

Both Teams to Score (1.67 at Bet365)

Derksen haalt uit: 'De leiding van Feyenoord wordt doodmoe van Dick Advocaat' | VoetbalPrimeur.nl
Dick Advocaat possibly enters his final season in management – but we’ve said that every season for a while.

PEC ZWOLLE vs. FEYENOORD

MAC³PARK stadium | Saturday 12th September | 19:00 GMT

I talked in the season preview about how I think PEC Zwolle could do with some bodies to help their campaign this year. Especially at the back, I think they look weak and well underprepared.

Some business has been completed during the summer with attacking midfielder Jesper Drost came home after a spell at Heracles.  He will be joined in the middle of the park by Rico Strieder who arrived from FC Twente and the highly-rated Slobodan Tedic was borrowed from Manchester City to take the burden off Mike van Duinen and Reza Ghoonchannejhad in attack.

Their opponents, Feyenoord still have 72-year-old Dick Advocaat at the helm, in which should be his last season… possibly. The Rotterdammers are well equipped to mount a serious title challenge and in the pre-season games they looked incredibly impressed defeating a strong Borussia Dortmund side 3-1.

The addition of Bryan Linssen is a great one for Advocaat. Linssen is an experienced goalscoring stalwart, scoring 88 goals in 278 Eredivisie games, he knows where the net is and he could very well beat last year’s total of 14.

PREDICTION

PEC Zwolle are too weak. I see nothing but a Feyenoord win. Enough said.

Feyenoord to win (1.70 at Bet365)

So our first official bet of the season is here and it’s the first Double Dutch of year. Take the below two picks in a double (best priced at bet365) and enjoy the games.

Heerenveen-Willem Both Teams to Score and Feyenoord to win (2.67 at Bet365)

TotalDutchFootball.com

BETTING TIPS, ORANJE, UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE

UEFA Nations League: Netherlands vs. Poland Preview

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UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE

NETHERLANDS vs. POLAND

FRIDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2020 – 7.45pm BST

UK TV: Sky Sports Premier League

International football returns this week as Ronald Koeman’s Holland take on Poland in a UEFA Nations League Group 1 contest. Will Burns thinks despite the upheavel backstage, the Dutch can simply win this one.

Dwight Lodeweges appointed Netherlands interim coach | MARCA in English
Lodeweges with Koeman before Ronald signed up for his La Liga challenge.

Oranje’s caretaker manager Dwight Lodeweges takes control for the first time as the Nations League finalists began their journey against Poland, and the 62-year-old has inherited a side that were in impressive form during qualification for Euro 2020. The Dutch won six of their eight matches and suffered just one loss to finish as runners-up in Group C behind bitter rivals Germany.

Ronald Koeman left the national post to lead Barcelona next season but leaves the Oranje in a much better position than what he inherited from Danny Blind in 2018.  Koeman guided his side to five wins from their final six Euro 2020 qualifiers to represent in next summer’s finals, having failed to qualify last time.

PSV.nl - Ihattaren included in provisional Netherlands squad
PSV wonderkid Mohamed Ihattaren will be itching to get on Friday night.

Lodeweges has an abundance of talent to pick from and could hand debuts to PSV wonderkid Mohamed Ihattaren, AZ’s Marco Bizot (GK) and Owen Wijndal (LB) or to Ajax’s central defender Perr Schuurs.  Although Juventus defender Matthias de Ligt is missing, the usual suspects of Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay will form a strong spine in the team with the likes Steven Bergwijn, Quincy Promes and new Manchester United signing Donny van de Beek all vying for a starting spot.

One major blow for Polish manager Jerzy Brzęczek is that arguably the best centre-forward in the world fails to join the squad for this set of games. Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski is having an extended rest after scoring 61 goals in 56 games for club and country this past year, I think he deserves it.

The history buffs will want to know that the Dutch’s record in 15 games against Poland is won six, drawn six and lost three. The Oranje are unbeaten in last seven encounters (W4 D3) since 2-0 European championship qualifying loss in Chorzow in May 1979. Poland have yet to win in seven games against Oranje in Netherlands (D5 L2). However, history means nothing at all when the team’s line-up on Friday night. After all half of these lads were even born in 1979.

Bundesliga | Can Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski be top scorer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup?
Robert Lewandowski is rested after a unbelievable season.

PREDICTION

Although I think the game may be a sluggish one for all concerned, and with the Oranje being disrupted by Ronald Koeman’s packing of his bags, I still think the Dutch are capable of clinching the win with ease. 

The main Polish threat, Robert Lewandowski will not play so I fail to see how Holland’s defence can be breached.

No Bobby Lewi, no Polish party.

Netherlands win to nil (2.30 at Bet365)

TotalDutchFootball.com

We will post preview/betting articles for the Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie, European and International competitions like this one throughout the year and we will keep track of our profits and losses for the whole 2020/21 season.  This is not an official bet due to lack of football from the Dutch sides over the past few months. Official bets will be begin in September.

BETTING TIPS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

AZ Alkmaar – FK Viktoria Plzen Preview

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SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND

AZ ALKMAAR vs. VIKTORIA PLZEN (CZE)

WEDNESDAY 26TH AUGUST 2020 – 3.30pm BST

Even though the Bayern Munich celebrations are still ongoing from their triumph on Sunday evening, AZ Alkmaar begin their quest for Champions League qualification on Wednesday afternoon in a proverbial banana skin one-legged match against Czech side FK Viktoria Plzen writes Will Burns.

We zullen er woensdag staan', zegt AZ-trainer Arne Slot, 'd ...
The AFAS Stadion is far from complete but will play host to this all important tie for AZ.

Even though the Bayern Munich celebrations are still ongoing from their triumph on Sunday evening, AZ Alkmaar begin their quest for Champions League qualification on Wednesday afternoon in a proverbial banana skin one-legged match against Czech side FK Viktoria Plzen.

Due to the current worldwide pandemic situation, UEFA introduced one-legged ties in the interim which introduces more uncertainty into the competition. By halving the length of the ties, this now matters least to the teams of similar ability and most to the teams of contrasting ability and provides more chance of an upset.

AZ head into the game as favourites but Plzen will be hungry for victory in this unfamiliar one-legged affair. The Czech’s experienced great disappointment at this stage last season, tasting defeat to Olympiakos, before coming a cropper just a few weeks later to Antwerp in the Europa League qualifying.

They qualified for this year’s competition by finishing second in the Czech 1.Liga in 2019/20 and have dished out convincing performances in recent friendly games. Plzen opened their league campaign up with a 3-1 victory over SFC Opava on Friday while resting a few players. Although they conceded first and missed a penalty, they ran out resounding winners by two goals.

GALERIE: SESTŘIH: Plzeň - Opava 3:1. Favorit otočil proti deseti ...
French striker Jean-David Beauguel will lead the line for Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday afternoon.

Plzen will led up top by their top scorer last year, Frenchman Jean-David Beauguel.  He notched 14 goals last term but was rested in Friday’s win until an injury forced him into the game late in the first-half. He went onto net once in the 3-1 win.

The Czech’s possess a strong midfield and creative attack and the AZ will have to be aware of that constantly. Teun Koopmeiners, Jordy Clasie and Dani de Wit will be in for a tough night and will have to play with great caution.

Despite just one win in six friendly outings and competing in an empty, half-finished home stadium on Wednesday afternoon, AZ are still favourites to win. As captain Teun Koopmeiners said in an interview earlier this week “Last year, the pre-season results were not as we wanted, but we won our first league game 4-0”, so spirits should not be down in the AZ camp.

UEFA Europa League: Who are AZ Alkmaar, Manchester United's Dutch ...
AZ’s Teun Koopmeiners is hopeful for a good performance.

They were boosted earlier this week as coach Arne Slot stated that veteran defender Ron Vlaar and speedy winger Calvin Stengs are both declared fit for the clash, however both men would be highly unlikely to see a full 90 minutes.

Stengs will be vital in the AZ forward line that worked so well last year. On the left, Oussama Idrissi will start and Myron Boadu through the middle, and the trio should create chances copiously to trouble Plzen keeper Ales Hruska.

If they can perform to the standards of last season, then advancing to the third round of qualifying should be a formality.

PREDICTION

Although they will not be up to the usual performance and condition that Plzen may be, due to sheer abundance of pace and sheer talent in attack, I see an AZ win here. This is the same team that took Ajax to the limit last year, they are yet to lose any of their talents to the bigger leagues and they should have enough quality to see off the Czech league runners-up.

AZ to win with Both Teams to Score (4.00 at Bet365)

TotalDutchFootball.com

We will post preview/betting articles for the Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie, European and International competitions like this one throughout the year and we will keep track of our profits and losses for the whole 2020/21 season.  This is not an official bet due to lack of football from the Dutch sides over the past few months. Official bets will be begin in September.

BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

Eredivisie Betting: Stam’s underdogs could bite Feyenoord

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Header-EredivisiePreview

The team of Will Burns and Steve Davies already hold massive profits of £81.75 from 18 bets this season and Will looks to add to the pot in Jaap Stam’s bow as PEC Zwolle head coach.

Jaap Stam could see success in his opening game

PEC Zwolle vs. Feyenoord
6.45pm Saturday

Saturday evening marks the debut of Jaap Stam as PEC Zwolle boss as his side faces the stiff competition of Feyenoord at the MAC3PARK Stadion.

During the winter break, Stam has brought three signings to Zwolle to strengthen a squad that lies in 16th place on just 15 points from 17 games. Former Ajax youth Pelle Clement joined from Reading, German striker Lennart Thy returned to Holland after a previous spell with VVV and the 2017 J. League’s Best Young Player award winner, 21-year old central defender Yuta Nakayama joined permanently from Kashiwa Reysol.

Clement failed to make an impact at Reading, as the attacking midfielder failed to score a goal in 29 appearances and made only two goals. Stam will be looking to get a vastly improved output from the 22-year-old.

German forward Thy scored eight goals in 34 VVV appearances last term

Lennart Thy managed to notch eight goals in 34 outings for VVV in the last season and Stam will be aiming for the 6ft centre-forward to take the goalscoring burden off Mark van Duinen, who has only hit the back of the net four times this season.

Japanese defender Nakayama is looking to improve under his new boss and also look to grab a few goals himself after notching three in 19 in the J-League last season. He was quoted this past week in saying: “In his era, the manager was quite the defender, so I want to learn from him in that department. On the other hand, I also want to impress him with my attacking play.”.

After watching his style of play at Reading, I can see Zwolle frustrating the Rotterdammers with Stam’s emphasis on possession-based football and they could easily grab themselves a point or even all three.

In the Eredivisie this season, Feyenoord have failed to win in five of their eight away games and will struggle to name a strong defence with a host of first-teamers missing. Ridgeciano Haps, Eric Botteghin and Jeremiah St. Juste will all sit out due to injury and Bart Nieuwkoop is suspended. Although with the quality of Robin van Persie, Steven Berghuis and Jens Toornstra in the attacking third, they have the weapons at their disposal to expect a win.

However, I think at a price of 2.43 at 888Sport, the Zwolle/Draw Double Chance is worth sticking a fiver on in a game where Jaap Stam will have his side organised and fully motivated to try and make a good start under his leadership.

Recommendation
PEC Zwolle/Draw Double Change 
£5 on at 2.43 at 888Sport

Season Record

W9-L9

Profit – £81.75

Team news
PEC Zwolle
Stam goes into his first game with Denis Genreau, Gustavo Hamer, Dico Koppers and Gianluca Scamacca set to miss out due to injuries and goalkeeper Diederik Boer is serving a suspension. New signings, Clement, Nakayama and Thy could make their bow.

Feyenoord
Head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst is without Bart Nieuwkoop (suspension) and Eric Botteghin, Ridgeciano Haps, and Jeremiah St. Juste are ruled out with injuries.

Key stat
Feyenoord have failed to win in five of their eight league away games this season.

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BETTING TIPS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Champions League: Look for Ajax to dominate AEK Athens

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Twenty four hours after PSV Eindhoven lock horns with Barcelona in the Nou Camp, it is the turn of four-time European Champions, AFC Ajax, who open their Group E campaign by playing host to reigning Greek champions, AEK Athens at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Wednesday evening writes Steve Davies.

Ajax vs. AEK Athens

Wednesday, 17.55BST – Live on BT Sport ESPN

Twenty four hours after PSV lock horns with Barcelona in the Nou Camp, it is the turn of, Ajax, holders of the European title four times, who open their Group E campaign by playing host to reigning Greek champions, AEK Athens at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Wednesday evening.

Image result for ajax aek athens

Despite picking up what was the club’s twelfth league crown last term, AEK Athens last title triumph came all the way back in 1994 with the intervening years seeing the club go to the brink of financial disaster and start all over again as an amateur outfit in the third tier in 2013 before achieving back-to-back promotions to reclaim their top-flight status.

However, having reached the semi-finals of the old UEFA Cup in 1977, the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1969 in addition to making the same stage of the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in both 1997 and 1998, AEK’s European pedigree shouldn’t be ignored.

Having negotiated their way past Scottish champions, Celtic 3-2 on aggregate in the third round of qualifying, Marinos Ouzounidis’ side then edged out Hungarian outfit, Videoton in the play-off round by the same scoreline to claim a place in the group stage of the competition. In addition, AEK has begun their domestic campaign in fine form with three successive victories leaving them top of the pile with a two-point advantage over second place PAOK. Even more impressively, AEK is yet to concede a goal in the league while bagging seven goals in just three outings thus far.

Ajax’s European pedigree is of course without question. However, with the last of their four European Cup triumphs coming all the way back in 1995, the club, much like Dutch football’s UEFA coefficient, has endured a largely disappointing time on the European stage ever since.

Even the optimism surrounding Ajax’s run to the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2017, where a fearless Peter Bosz-coached side came up just short against Manchester United, failed to propel the club back to the forefront of European club football after tumbling out of qualifying for both the UEFA Champions League and then the UEFA Europa League in quick succession under Marcel Keizer last term.

Image result for ajax aek athens

However, with former FC Utrecht coach, Erik ten Hag having succeeded Keizer at the helm, Ajax once more look like a side to be feared and, having accounted for SK Sturm Graz, Standard Liege and Dynamo Kiev in relatively routine fashion to reach the group stage of the competition while opening their domestic campaign with four wins from five in which they have found the back of the net an impressive fourteen times and conceded only once to leave ten Hag’s men two points off pace-setting PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie standings, the Ajax faithful have good reason to believe their side capable of snatching second place in a group that, Bayern Munich aside, appears to be there for the taking.

In a strange way, Ajax’s long and winding road to the group stage of the competition has actually served to help bring together a side that appeared at various points in the summer to be heading in different directions. Few expected the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Matthijs de Ligt or Andre Onana to still be at the club but their rumoured moves failed to materialise leaving Erik ten Hag with an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

As such, Ajax’s strong start to the campaign both at home and abroad has many expecting great things from the four-time European champions and with a vociferous Johan Cruijff ArenA behind them, ten Hag’s men should have no trouble getting off to a winning start in Group E.

Recommendation

Ajax to win 3-0

£5 on 9.50 at BetVictor

Season Record

W8-L9

Profit – £34.25

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BETTING TIPS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

Champions League: Back PSV to threaten Barcelona

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PSV and Ajax will represent the Dutch in the Champions League and it doesn’t get much tougher than an away trip to the Nou Camp for Marc van Bommel’s side. Will Burns previews early Tuesday evening’s huge tie.

Image result for barcelona vs psv

FC Barcelona vs. PSV

Tuesday, 17.55BST – Live on BT Sport 1

This will be the first clash between Barcelona and PSV for over 20 years and what a daunting task this will be for Marc van Bommel as he returns to the Nou Camp as a head coach. However, his side travels to Spain in incredible form.

The Eindhoven side has won their last seven games in all competitions scoring a staggering 27 goals and conceding five including a 7-0 win away to ADO Den Haag last time out. The firepower of Gaston Pereiro, Steven Bergwijn, Luuk de Jong and Hirving Lozano have been responsible for notching twenty of the aforementioned 27 goals, and despite the gulf in class in the standard of teams, Barca will need to beware of the PSV forward line.

Barcelona themselves are on a winning streak of five, but this past weekend that record was in jeopardy. Real Sociedad hosted the first game in their newly refurbished Anoeta Stadium and led for the majority of the game after taking a 12th-minute lead from an Aritz Elustondo volley after Barca failed to clear a free-kick.

Similarly to how I envisage PSV to attack, although they have much possession, Sociedad looked dangerous on the counter, and Barca found this difficult to manage at times and their possession lacked any kind of penetration in the first 45 minutes. Meanwhile, after a frustrating first-half, coach Ernesto Valverde switched Sergi Roberto into full-back after the break as Phillipe Coutinho replaced Nélson Semedo and the former Liverpool man was influential in turning the game around.

The entrance of the Brazilian gave Barca a faster movement in possession and former Ajacied striker Luis Suarez and Ousamma Dembele notched to clinch a close fought win. For the best bet in this one, I cannot look past a home win, however; the scorers of 27 goals in seven games, PSV, like Sociedad this past Saturday, are more than capable to grab a goal.

Recommendation

Barcelona win with Both Teams to Score

£10 on 2.50 at 888Sport

Season Record

W8-L8

Profit – £44.25

Team news

FC Barcelona
Valverde experimented with his midfield this past weekend but look for him to select his strongest side with tunnel vision on the Champions League this season. Sergio Busquets and Coutinho were left out of the starting line-up, but they should come back in alongside Ivan Rakitic.

PSV Eindhoven
Not one to use much rotation, Van Bommel fielded a strong eleven at the weekend, but Erick Gutierrez has made a claim to start. The newly signed Mexican midfielder impressed from the bench on his debut scoring and creating another in the 7-0 victory against ADO.

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

Eredivisie Betting: Lets back goals to boost our profits

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Header-EredivisiePreview

Will Burns (with a little help from Steve Davies) cleaned up last night in the Eerste Divisie nailing two out of two bets for a profit of £31.00 off the MVV-Go Ahead match. Now that the football season is in full swing and new signings are settling in, here’s a treble for Saturday and Sunday’s Eredivisie.

robin van persie

There’s three shorter prices than I normally tips today but if we combine them we nearly get £45 back from a £10 stake.

First off, I see goals aplenty in the VVV-Venlo vs. SC Heerenveen (Kick Off 17.30BST) match tonight. I feel this will be a very open game with chances at both ends throughout the 90 minutes. Last time out, Jan Olde Riekerink’s Heerenveen hosted Feyenoord in an eight-goal thriller that ended in the Friesland side losing 5-3 to the Rotterdammers. Week before that was a valiant 1-1 draw at home to Vitesse, which could have easily seen more goals with Vitesse having 23 goals attempts. The opening week saw Riekerink’s side beat PEC Zwolle 3-2 and again the opposition saw 18 chances throughout the game. I see VVV experiencing similar joy against the Heerenveen defence as well as taking some punishment themselves. I side more with the Heerenveen win rather than the draw or a home win but let’s play it safe and have a dabble on Over 2.5 Goals.

Similar thoughts in the next game but I am unsure of the striking abilities of either side as ADO Den Haag visiting Excelsior on Saturday evening at 18.45BST. In the last six home games in all competitions, Excelsior has seen goals at either end. In all three league games for ADO so far, they have see goals in both ends in all three outings. I see Both Teams to Score as our best chance of profit in this game so this is my second entry in the treble.

Mitchell van der Gaag’s NAC Breda have not started the season well and face a daunting trip to De Kuip on Sunday afternoon (15:45BST) for our final tip. Despite a decent 3-0 win at home to De Graafschap two weeks ago, they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Excelsior last weekend. AZ Alkmaar pasted them 5-0 on the opening day and I see more of the same on the Sunday in Rotterdam. Feyenoord after an initial blip in the league, a 2-0 defeat away to De Graafschap, have looked unstoppable ever since. Smashing Excelsior 3-0 in the first home game of the season and then putting five past Heerenveen, as earlier mentioned. Feyenoord -1 on the handicap rounds out our treble.

Good luck if you’re betting!

Recommendations

VVV-Heerenveen: Over 2.5 Goals

Excelsior-ADO: Both Teams to Score

Feyenoord-NAC: Feyenoord -1

£10 on 4.39 10 Bet

Season Record

W8-L7

Profit – £54.25

Name-WillBurns

Click the name above to follow Will on Twitter.

TotalDutchFootball.com