SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST – from 15:30 BST

🇳🇱 EREDIVISIE – WEEK ONE ⚽

NEC VS. TELSTAR

NEC enter this afternoon’s match against Telstar as the far stronger and more complete side, even if their recent scoring form has dipped. Dick Schreuder’s team play front‑foot, attractive football and consistently create chances — the issue has simply been converting them. Across their last three fixtures (Elversberg and Sevilla in pre-season and Olympiakos in the midweek 0-0 Champions League qualifier), they scored only once, but the underlying performance levels remained high. Against a weaker opponent, that volume of chances is far more likely to translate into goals.

Telstar, by contrast, specialise in low‑scoring, conservative matches. Under new coach Henk Brugge, they are rebuilding their identity while operating on one of the smallest budgets in the league. Their squad contains a few promising pieces — Prince Aning being the standout — but overall they lack the depth, experience and attacking quality needed to trouble a side of NEC’s calibre. Most analysts expect Telstar to spend the season fighting at the bottom end of the table.

NEC, meanwhile, are riding a wave of momentum and ambition after last year’s remarkable third‑place finish. They’ve strengthened with elite leadership in Dušan Tadić, whose arrival has lifted the entire club. Nijmegen feels energised, confident and fully invested in a project that now includes Champions League qualifiers — a level Telstar simply cannot match.

Yes, NEC concede chances because of their aggressive style, but they also generate far more than they give away. Against top sides like Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV, they’ve shown they can rise to the occasion. Against a newly assembled Telstar defence, NEC’s attacking patterns, tempo and individual quality should be decisive.

Put simply: NEC create too much, Telstar offer too little, and the gap in squad strength, ambition and tactical cohesion is significant. Even if the scoreline stays modest — as Telstar often force — NEC have every reason to take all three points this afternoon.

PSV VS. FORTUNA SITTARD

PSV walk into this opener with something to prove. Last weekend’s 4–0 collapse in the Johan Cruyff Schaal was a shock to the system, especially at the Philips Stadion, and it guarantees a fierce reaction tonight. With Ajax and Feyenoord both well‑placed to start the season strongly, PSV simply cannot afford another stumble — the pressure to deliver a convincing home win is real.

The squad has also been strengthened by the arrival of Filip Kostić. At 33, he isn’t a long‑term project, but his experience in this league and his ability to guide younger attackers adds immediate value. PSV already possess one of the most efficient home attacks in Europe, and Kostić’s crossing and decision‑making only sharpen that edge. He will not feature today due to work permit issues.

The matchup itself heavily favours PSV. Their recent record against Fortuna is extraordinary: 19 goals in the last four meetings, an average of 4.75 per game. When PSV face Fortuna at home, the pattern is consistent — relentless pressure, high‑quality chances, and goals arriving in waves.

Fortuna Sittard, meanwhile, remain a club defined by limited resources and a narrow, first‑team‑focused structure. The new leadership under Joris Matthijs may stabilise the organisation, but on the pitch they still lack the firepower to threaten top‑six sides away from home. Losing Kai Sierhuis removes their most reliable striker, and the replacements — Liquin Josefaak and Descot — are unproven at Eredivisie level.

Defensively, Fortuna have pieces to admire, especially Branderhorst in goal and the pairing built around Ad Woy, but they are stepping into one of the most hostile away fixtures in the league. PSV’s tempo, movement and depth routinely overwhelm teams with Fortuna’s profile.

Danny Buis ensures Fortuna won’t collapse across a season, but this is exactly the type of match where his side struggle: away, under pressure, against elite attacking quality.

Everything points in one direction. PSV need a statement performance, they have the firepower to produce one, and Fortuna historically cannot cope with this level of intensity. The gap in quality, depth and attacking efficiency is simply too large. PSV winning by more than one goal is the logical expectation.

If you joining me with these selections, good luck.

Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

TotalDutchFootball.com

FRIDAY 7TH AUGUST – 19:00 BST

🇳🇱 EREDIVISIE – WEEK ONE ⚽

SC CAMBUUR VS. EXCELSIOR

It’s finally here: opening night of the new Eredivisie season. And for SC Cambuur, promoted last year, the spotlight feels heavier than ever. This isn’t just a sporting return to the top flight — it’s a financial lifeline. Their new stadium ballooned in cost due to global instability, pushing the club into a position where staying in the Eredivisie is directly tied to economic survival. Relegation would hurt twice.

Under Johan Plat, a direct disciple of Dick Schreuder, Cambuur enter the season with ambition and a clear identity. Their pre‑season was encouraging: confident possession play, good structure, and a notable win over Anthony Correia’s FC Utrecht. Crucially, defensive leader Ismael Baouf appears set to stay, giving the newly promoted side stability where they need it most.

Yes, it’s a shame Henk de Jong is no longer the head coach, but Cambuur still look capable of grinding out enough points to survive. In their brand‑new stadium, backed by a fanbase desperate for top‑flight football, they should be strong at home and pick up results throughout the season. Just not tonight.

Excelsior enter the new season carrying their familiar tag as the Eredivisie’s perennial overachievers — a club that consistently punches above its financial weight and survives in a league where their budget says they shouldn’t. With Ruben den Uil, an exceptionally talented young coach, they have a manager capable of elevating the squad beyond its limitations. Creative force Noah Naujoks remains in Kralingen, and Lennard Hartjes — a pure, instinctive footballer — is expected to take another step forward this year.

Their success continues to hinge on smart talent development. Excelsior’s reputation as a nurturing environment for young players, a place where careers can ignite without suffocating pressure, remains one of their greatest strengths. The coaching staff deserve credit for their sharp recruitment eye as well. Moves like bringing in Silva from MVV show how effectively they identify players who fit their system despite operating on a shoestring budget. It’s a reminder that Excelsior’s power lies not in financial muscle, but in clarity of vision.

Still, the competitive reality is unforgiving. They cannot compete financially with clubs like NAC or Willem II, meaning creativity and youth development must once again bridge the gap. If they maintain that formula, Excelsior may defy expectations yet again — but the margin for error is razor‑thin.

Onto tonight… The hosts will be eager to build momentum from day one despite missing injured defender Daan Visser. Cambuur have won three of their last ten matches in all competitions, averaging 1.5 goals scored and 1.9 conceded per game. Their fixtures have been entertaining, producing an average of 3.4 goals, while both teams have scored in 80% of those outings. History is also on Cambuur’s side, as they have won nine of the previous sixteen meetings with Excelsior.

The visitors, though, arrive full of confidence after an impressive preseason in which they recorded six victories while scoring freely. Summer signing Daniel van Vianen is expected to make his Eredivisie debut, adding further excitement to the visitors’ lineup. Excelsior have averaged 2.0 goals per away match across their last five competitive road games, with every one of those fixtures seeing both teams score. Their attacking approach should make this an open and entertaining contest.

So I see Excelsior, continuing the trend of the last six games and score at least two goals. Cambuur have conceded at least two in three of their six pre-season warm-ups so this is a decent price at 2.25.

And if Excelsior can score two, you have to think they have a great chance of taking all three points, so I’ll have a point on that at a hefty 2.75.

However, the best value is with Excelsior wide forward Gyan de Regt to score a goal at 5.50. A huge price for the 22 year old. He is dangerous striker who consistently gets into dangerous positions and last season had 41 shots, with 16 on target, giving him a solid 39% shot accuracy. Against Cambuur’s back line that hasn’t gelled yet, and the fact that he has scored four goals in the last two friendlies away to De Graafschap (5-1) and Heracles (5-3), this looks overpriced to me.

If you joining me with these selections, good luck.

Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

TotalDutchFootball.com

Tues 4th August – 19:00 BST
UEFA Champions League
Olympiakos vs. N.E.C.

N.E.C. Nijmegen head into uncharted territory on Tuesday evening as they embark on the biggest adventure in their club’s history. For the first time ever, the Nijmegen side have reached the Champions League qualifiers, and their debut comes against one of Europe’s seasoned competitors.

Olympiakos are not only vastly experienced, with 374 European matches in their history, but also reached the first knockout round of last season’s Champions League. Backed by one of the most intimidating atmospheres on the continent, the Greek giants will look to their fortress, the Karaiskakis Stadium, as Dick Schreuder’s men arrive with aim to cause a shock writes Will Burns.

Olympiakos

The preparation heading into this one, has been far from perfect for coach José Luis Mendilibar and his side’s pre-season has been far from perfect. They began their warm-up programme with two wins and a draw, but momentum quickly evaporated as they slipped into three consecutive defeats — including losses to Eredivisie sides Ajax and AZ Alkmaar. The 3–2 defeat to AZ did end an 180‑minute goal drought so at least they have that to be thankful for.

The worrying thing for the Greek has been their obvious defensive fragility. Even in their victories over Rakow (2–1) and Fortuna Sittard (3–1), and the draw with Leuven (1–1), they leaked goals. They failed to keep a single clean sheet throughout pre-season, leaving their back line looking vulnerable ahead of the NEC visit. For a club with ambitions of returning to the Champions League group stage, this is a concern that cannot be ignored.

Last season, Olympiakos scraped through the group phase on the final match day at Ajax’s expense before falling to Bayer Leverkusen in the first knockout round. The expectation internally is clear: reaching the group stage again is the minimum requirement. This two‑legged tie marks the first step in that mission, and facing opponents with no prior experience at this level only heightens the pressure on the Greek side to deliver.

In terms of personnel, Olympiacos wrapped up their preparations knowing that Mendilibar will be without Santiago Esse, who remains sidelined through injury and did not train, while Lorenzo Scipioni has recovered and is available for selection.

Other absences from the squad is Giorgos Masouras. The Greek international, who had been expected to depart for Saudi Arabia, has not been registered for the qualifiers. Mendilibar had used Masouras as a central attacking option during pre‑season, and with Roman Yaremchuk, Mehdi Taremi and Clayton all omitted from the squad. Moroccan international Ayoub El Kaabi stands as the only recognised striker available for the opening leg.

NEC Nijmegen

It seems like an eternity when NEC’s celebrated a remarkable their best ever finish in third last season in the Eredivisie. Their pre-season results ahead of their European debut have been mixed at best. Schreuder’s side won just two of their seven warm-up matches, losing four, including back-to-back defeats to Elversberg and Sevilla. Their final test before travelling to Greece ended in disappointment at a sold-out Goffertstadion, highlighting the inconsistency that has lingered throughout the summer.

What has remained constant, however, is NEC’s attacking identity. Schreuder’s men conceded in all seven friendlies and scored in six, mirroring the high-risk equals high-reward style that defined their last years’ Eredivisie campaign. With 77 league goals, NEC were the second-most prolific side in the division behind PSV Eindhoven (101), but their 53 goals conceded were the highest among the top three — a stark contrast to PSV (45) and second place Feyenoord (44).

This blend of front-footed football and defensive openness was central to NEC’s historic rise, and there is little indication that Schreuder plans to abandon it now. Their pre-season performances suggest that the Nijmegen outfit will carry that same approach into the new campaign, likely guaranteeing entertainment — and opportunities — at both ends of the pitch in Piraeus.

NEC’s squad, however, is not at full strength. Vito van Crooij, Koki Ogawa, Perr Schuurs, Willum Thor Willumsson, Adam Tahaui and Yassin Moslih are either injured or not included in the squad for the first leg. Ogawa’s absence is particularly notable after his eight-goal Eredivisie season. Even so, NEC can still call upon the experienced duo of Tjaronn Chery and Bryan Linssen, who combined for 21 league goals last term and remain key figures in Schreuder’s attacking setup.

During Monday’s press conference, Schreuder confirmed that starting centre‑back Philipp Sandler is fit to play on Tuesday. Sandler trained normally at the Faliraki Stadium and is expected to start. Schreuder also made clear that he did not attend any of Olympiacos’ pre‑season friendlies in the Netherlands, downplaying their relevance: “Friendlies mean nothing. When the real games begin, a team like this performs. That also depends on the coach. We know it’s going to be a difficult night.”

NEC were represented by Surinamese midfielder Tjaronn Chery, who famously scored in Maccabi Haifa’s 4–0 win over Olympiacos in Piraeus back in 2022. Chery spoke positively about the occasion: “It’s great to be playing in the Champions League qualifiers. We had a good season and we deserve to be here. Nervous? No, we’re looking forward to it. I’ve never suffered from anxiety, but everyone handles it differently.”

As reported by the Dutch media, around 1,300 supporters have travelled to Greece — eager to witness their club’s first European match in 17 years.

Analysis

So yes, both sides enter this tie with defensive concerns. Olympiakos have struggled to keep opponents out throughout pre-season, while NEC’s open, attacking style naturally leaves gaps that stronger sides can exploit. This combination points toward a match where chances should appear at both ends.

Olympiakos hold the clear advantage in European experience and will be buoyed by a home crowd known for its intensity. The Karaiskakis Stadium has long been one of Europe’s most hostile venues, and NEC’s players will be stepping into an environment unlike anything they have faced before.

NEC’s absences further tilt the balance toward the hosts, but Schreuder’s side have shown repeatedly that they can score against stronger opposition. Their unpredictability, both positive and negative, makes them a dangerous opponent in early qualifying rounds, where rhythm and sharpness are often still developing.

Prediction

Olympiakos go into the first leg as deserved favourites, backed by their European pedigree, home advantage and the expectation that comes with playing in one of the continent’s most intimidating stadiums. NEC, however, carry enough attacking threat — and Olympiakos have shown enough defensive vulnerability — to suggest this tie could be far more competitive than the gap in experience implies. A high‑tempo, open contest feels likely, with chances at both ends.

Both Teams to Score with an Olympiakos win looks an excellent angle at 3.25 with Bet365, and it’s the outcome that makes the most sense based on both sides’ profiles. From NEC’s perspective, keeping the scoreline to something manageable — a 2–1 or even a 3–2 — would give them a genuine opportunity to turn the tie around back in Nijmegen next week.

⚽️ BET: Olympiakos to win & Both Teams to Score
💷 1pt
Best Odds: 3.25 at Bet365

Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

TotalDutchFootball.com