Life under Xavi Hernandez started well for the Dutch against Germany, in a game where the points were shared but the Oranje did more than enough to clinch all three points. The Spaniard’s debut game as new boss, was followed up by a trip to Serbia with a 2-1 win thanks to two Mexx Meerdink goals, in a match that was far from comfortable.
Now Xavi and his side faces, Greece in their sold out Toumba Stadium and the fiery atmosphere in Thessaloniki will be a major test. The Greeks, despite missing out on World Cup qualification, are a side with an abundance of generational talent coming through. They come into this game with confidence as high as a giraffe’s arse with a 2-1 win over Serbia and defeated Jurgen Klopp’s Germany on Sunday in Augsburg.
Although they spent large periods without the ball in Germany, they managed to clinch a 1-0 win thanks to a Dimitrios Kourbelis goal on 74 minutes. Although he is reportedly side-lined for Thursday’s game. Ranked 46th in the World Rankings, the Greek head coach Ivan Jovanovic is actively transitioning his squad toward a younger core.
Former key veterans like Tasos Bakasetas are phased out or omitted, while younger talents such as Konstantinos Karetsas (aged 18, Dortmund), Christos Zafeiris (23, PAOK), and Cristos Tzolis (24, Arsenal) are taking centre stage. Former AZ striker Vangelis Pavlidis will sit up top, supported by Tzolis, Karetsas, while Konstantinos Mavropanos and Konstantinos Tsimikas will be the key men in midfield, anchoring the defence. They will adopt a high-energy pressing style with direct wing play through Tzolis, utilising the big man Pavlidis to hold play up.
Three huge absentees is up top for the Dutch with Donyell Malen (knee), Cody Gakpo (ankle) and Brian Brobbey (hamstring) set to be ruled out, Xavi is reported to deploy an experimental, youthful front line featuring Crysencio Summerville, Mexx Meerdink and Ruben van Bommel. Despite the changes up front, at the back, Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, and Micky van de Ven is as solid as they’ll have available, ahead of Bart Verbruggen in goal. In the middle of the park, the midfield engine of Ryan Gravenberch, Joey Veerman, and Tijjani Reijnders will be tasked with managing match control and driving transition play.
On who wins this, I am leaving that one alone.
Greece look good, the Dutch are still a bit of unknown. The Oranje look vulnerable under pressure, a mistake lead to Serbia’s equaliser last game. In both German and Serbian games, they missed several good chances. So I would lean towards positive Greek result but like I say, I’m passing on that.
I want to hone in on Ruben Van Bommel, if he starts, for two bets here with good value. He had saw four bookings so far, one yellow in the Champions League tie against Shakhtar and three in the Eredivisie, and one of them should have been a red – see foul on Aaron Bouwman vs. Ajax.
If he does play, he will be up against Georgios Vagiannidis of Sporting on Thursday night. Blessed with strong burst acceleration and stamina, the graduate of Panathinaikos’ academy, can cover the entire right flank for 90 minutes. His speed makes him a weapon on counter-attacks and allows him to recover quickly in defence so I think the pressure could be on Van Bommel defensively too. Vagiannidis has saw an opposition winger booked already in the Portuguese league this season when Gustavo Silva was booked for Vitoria Guimaraes on the opening day of the season.
Van Bommel card and two fouls look a good bet here, and I would not stop combining them if you feel the price is right.
Italian referee Marco Guida takes the whistle on Thursday. He’s already shown a strict hand this season by issuing seven yellow cards, with 29 fouls in an NK Celje vs. Aluminij Champions League qualifier, and three in a Benfica vs. AGF Aarhus Europa League qualifying tie, and six more in two Serie A matches. Here’s hoping RvB makes his book on Thursday evening.
⚽️ Ruben van Bommel to commit two or more fouls 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.20 at Bet365
⚽️ Ruben van Bommel to be booked 💷 1pt Best Odds: 6.50 at Sky Bet
Thursday evening sees the International Break return and the Nations League kick off with a huge Group A clash. The Oranje host Germany at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam as this historic rivalry enters a new chapter as two icons of the game make their competitive international debuts. Xavi Hernández takes the reins for the Netherlands, while Jürgen Klopp assumes command of Germany following their post-World Cup rebuild.
NETHERLANDS
Xavi is looking to implement a bold, attacking philosophy right away, a shift heavily discussed in the Dutch media. According to De Telegraaf this week, his decision to omit all-time leading scorer Memphis Depay signals a definitive changing of the guard, while he recently called up AZ’s Mexx Meerdink, who I personally think is incredibly overrated, as a fresh replacement for the injured Donyell Malen, likewise, I think isn’t what is cracked up to be. So the number nine position may be problem, but Brian Brobbey’s weekend hat-trick for Sunderland against Manchester City makes a compelling case for him to retain the starting striker spot he held during Ronald Koeman’s tenure. Crysencio Summerville and Cody Gakpo should be relied upon to exploit the wide channels.
The Dutch are navigating a depleted midfield with Justin Kluivert and Frenkie de Jong ruled out, while defensively, Matthijs de Ligt is dealing with a back issue. The old guard of Virgil van Dijk anchors the backline, likely alongside Jan Paul van Hecke or Micky van de Ven.
GERMANY
Jürgen Klopp’s era begins with a significantly retooled squad following a wave of retirements from veterans like Manuel Neuer and Antonio Rüdiger. Joshua Kimmich takes over the captaincy. Marc-André ter Stegen is expected to get the starting nod over Alexander Nübel in goal and in the centre of the park, Jamal Musiala will pull the strings in a 4-2-3-1 system, bringing sensational form into the international window.
Nico Schlotterbeck is looking to recover from injury to start for Klopp, or may wait a week or so before climbing back into the side. Jonathan Tah should start regardless. Attackers like Karim Adeyemi and Kai Havertz are set to provide the firepower up front and Lennart Karl, just 18, is tipped to start on the right
PREDICTIONS
It is a bit of unknown but I feel a high-scoring affair will develop here with both sides finding a goal. They both possess attacking quality while fielding somewhat experimental defensive setups. Although both teams are under new management, Germany and the Netherlands have both seen both teams to score land in all five of their last five fixtures.
Historically, Germany holds the upper hand, having lost only once in their last seven clashes with the Oranje, though the Netherlands have not lost on home soil in 90 minutes since October 2023.
Klopp has a lot of work to do after the Germans showed a poor showing at the World Cup, losing to Ecuador then being held against Paraguay before crashing out in the Round of 32 on penalties. The Dutch had a better showing, undefeated in the group stages before losing on pens to Morocco, who equalised with virtually the last kick (header) of the game to tie the game up.
A Bet Builder with a Dutch win or Draw, Over 2.5 Goals with BTTS pays £24.55 off £10.
⚽️ BET BUILDER Netherlands or Draw – Double Chance Both Teams to Score Over 2.5 Goals 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.46 at Sky Bet
Five bets picked out here and I will be incredibly quick with the reasoning as I have a busy few weeks ahead with the International Break approaching. Follow the site for tips throughout the next three weeks but for now, let’s dive into Saturday’s action in the Eredivisie.
SPARTA ROTTERDAM VS. SC HEERENVEEN
I think the draw looks a strong possibility here, with Sparta drawing two of their last five matches and Heerenveen sharing the points in three of their previous five outings. However, both sides are in desperate need of points, so a goalless stalemate does feel unlikely, but Both Teams to Score is priced too short for my liking.
I really like Milan Zonneveld to find the net. Correct scores such as 1-1, 2-2, or even a higher-scoring draw appeals to me, with the 22-year-old striker scoring four goals in his last four consecutive games, and is averaging an impressive 4.66 shots per 90 minutes for Sparta this season.
Sparta’s recent results have produced plenty of goals, with score lines of 3-1, 3-3, 1-2, 2-2 and 1-4. They are creating plenty of chances too, averaging five shots on target per game across their last four matches. Heerenveen, meanwhile, continue to look vulnerable defensively despite keeping a rare clean sheet in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Telstar. They are also averaging around five shots on target per game, but have conceded nine goals in their last five matches while scoring six themselves. With both teams regularly involved in open games, another entertaining, high-scoring draw would not be a surprise. Two bets in this one.
AJAX VS. EXCELSIOR
Ajax face a tough test in Excelsior who have proved they are no slouches this campaign. Sitting in the sixth, Excelsior have scored 13 goals and conceded just seven goals in the first six games. They have won three, kept two clean sheets, drew 2-2 with NEC and lost at home to PSV and Utrecht both by 2-1.
Ajax are obviously favourites and I do think they will win, they are scoring goals for fun. Two 5-1 wins last two weeks at home to Willem II and away to Fortuna Sittard after tasting a 3-1 defeat to PSV. Prior to that they scored four without reply away to Telstar, beat Sion 9-5 over two legs in the Conference League qualifiers. They have two clean sheets all season so far in all competitions over 13 games: a 2-0 and 4-0 away to Zwolle and the aforementioned Telstar.
Excelsior can, and I think they will find the net on Saturday evening and I have to pick Irakli Yegoian to be involved again. The Georgian midfielder has six goal involvements in the six league matches so far, scoring twice with four assists. He is a handsome price for a goal or an assist.
WILLEM II VS. FORTUNA SITTARD
Let’s finish on a Bet Builder: Fortuna to win and Mohamed Ihattaren to score or assist. I’ve talked about Fortuna Sittard a lot this season already and how they have been surprisingly successful, well they face a Willem II that have not been a surprise. Coming up from the Eerste Divisie last season, it was thought they would struggle in the higher division this year and so far, they have. I cannot see them picking up a point here either.
Fortuna sit in seventh with ten points, Willem II on just 2 points and second bottom. The Tilburgers have conceded a massive 19 goals in the six games so far, scoring six times. Sittard have saw victories against ADO Den Haag, FC Groningen and SC Cambuur while losing to AZ Alkmaar and Ajax. They held champions PSV to a 2-2 draw at the Philips Stadion on the opening day. Despite last weeks’ 5-1 thumping off Ajax, they look in good stead to get third away victory of the season here and Mohamed Ihattaren looks most likely to be involved in a goal.
The Moroccan right-winger has found himself scoring three goals with two assists so far this season, and 1.11 goal involvements per 90 so far. This gives us a nice double in the late game on Saturday.
If you joining me with this selections, good luck.
SPARTA VS. HEERENVEEN ⚽️ BET 1: Draw 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.75 at Bet365
⚽️ BET 2: Milan Zonneveld to score 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.63 at Sky Bet/Paddy Power
AJAX VS. EXCELSIOR ⚽️ BET 1: Ajax win/Both Teams to Score 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.20 at Sky Bet
⚽️ BET 2: Irakli Yegoian to score or assist 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.20 at Bet365
WILLEM II VS. FORTUNA SITTARD ⚽️ BET BUILDER Fortuna win Mohammed Ihattaran to score or assist 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.75 at Bet365
Despite these two teams struggling below their expectations, this should be a cracking match on Friday at the Euroborg with lots of chances, goals and defensive lapses. I can’t trust either team to pick up the win but they’re should be goals at both ends writes Will Burns.
FC GRONINGEN
Despite a run of four matches without a victory, confidence remains high within the FC Groningen camp. Dick Lukkien’s side earned a 1-1 draw away to Go Ahead Eagles on September 12th, taking the lead through Brynjólfur Willumsson’s excellent strike from outside the box. Prior to that, Groningen shared a 2-2 draw with FC Twente at Euroborg, where Thom van Bergen and Tygo Land were both on the scoresheet.
The results may not have produced maximum points, but Groningen have continued to demonstrate their attacking quality. Before the draw with Twente, they were narrowly beaten 3-2 at home by Fortuna Sittard, with David van der Werff finding the net and an own goal from Justin Hubner helping to keep the contest alive until the closing stages. The recurring theme has been Groningen’s ability to create chances and score goals, although defensive errors have often prevented them from turning positive performances into victories.
Much of the spotlight has fallen on Thom van Bergen following a series of influential displays and important goal contributions, while local media continue to emphasise the importance of Euroborg as a difficult venue for visiting sides. Groningen are expected to be without Malcolm Jeng, Travis Hernes, Nikolas Brandis and Tyrique Mercera, while Ryan Metu remains a doubt. Even so, reports suggest Lukkien is likely to stick closely to the side that drew with Go Ahead Eagles, with Van Bergen and Willumsson once again expected to spearhead the attack as Groningen look to combine their attacking threat with greater defensive solidity.
PEC ZWOLLE
PEC Zwolle will be looking to bounce back from a disastrous and damn right humiliating 7-0 defeat to Feyenoord, a result that has dominated the headlines in the region this week. Feyenoord controlled the match from start to finish, enjoying 62% possession and ruthlessly exposing the defensive frailties that have become a growing concern for the Blauwvingers. This clash is the perfect opportunity for a response, although there are lingering doubts over both confidence levels and the team’s defensive organisation.
Results prior to that defeat paint a more mixed picture. Zwolle earned a respectable 2-2 draw away at Sparta Rotterdam, with Ibrahim Cissoko and Koen Kostons finding the net, while they also claimed an impressive 2-0 victory at sc Heerenveen thanks to goals from Nick Viergever and Kostons. Those performances demonstrate that PEC possess enough quality to trouble opponents, but their recent results also highlight an inability to consistently maintain the same level from week to week. The pressure on Zwolle head coach Henry van der Vegt has grew, and team news has not helped matters ahead of the trip to Euroborg. Midfielder Ryan Thomas has been ruled out, while Younes Namli, Filip Krastev and Sherel Floranus are also unavailable through injury or lack of fitness. The absences of Thomas and Namli are particularly notable given their experience and influence in midfield, leaving Zwolle slightly short of leadership and stability as they attempt to recover from last weekend’s heavy setback.
PREDICTION
While Groningen look the more likely winners on paper, I can’t trust either side to pick up a win. Groningen’s attacking performances have been encouraging, but they do concede, while PEC Zwolle are still searching for a response after their recent struggles. Goals look the most reliable angle, with both teams possessing enough quality to get goals and enough defensive vulnerabilities to make Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score both confidence selections.
At least three goals has landed in eight of the ten combined league matches (so have Over 3.5 Goals) involving these sides this season, while both teams have scored in every Groningen match and in three of PEC Zwolle’s six outings.
But let’s boost the Bet Builder, Koen Kostons and Brynjólfur Willumsson stand out as appealing shots-on-target selections. Kostons has recorded an effort on target in all but two league appearances this season (Feyenoord 7-0 and Ajax 2-0), while Willumsson has been one of Groningen’s most dangerous attacking outlets, scoring four goals in his last six matches and registering eight shots on target across the campaign.
In a single, Tobias Sommer is priced far too high to register a shot on target. The Zwolle midfielder has managed at least one effort on target in four of his six appearances this season and has recorded eight total shots during that period. Given PEC’s need to bounce back and the likelihood that they will have to contribute offensively to get a result in Groningen, the price on Sommer looks too generous.
If you joining me with this selections, good luck.
⚽️ BET 1: BET BUILDER Koen Kostons 1+Shots On Target Brynjólfur Willumsson 1+Shots On Target Over 2.5 Goals Both Teams To Score 💷 1pts Best Odds: 2.65 at Bet365
⚽️ BET 2: Tobias Sommer 1+Shots On Target 💷 1pts Best Odds: 3.00 at Bet365
Week Six saw Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV had heavy wins at the weekend while NEC was shocked to a defeat. SC Cambuur and FC Utrecht picked up their first wins of the campaign writes Will Burns.
I have attached highlights from the clubs’ official YouTube channel where available so you can watch while you read along.
FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2026
AZ ALKMAAR 1-1 WILLEM II
AZ dropped points for the first time this season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Willem II on Friday night. Despite controlling much of the match, Leeroy Echteld’s side were unable to turn their dominance into victory. Jordy Clasie marked his 350th Eredivisie appearance by opening the scoring before half-time, calmly finishing after excellent work from Calvin Stengs and Mexx Meerdink. Alkmaar could have extended their lead, but Stengs missed a golden opportunity before the half-time whistle.
The hosts continued to dictate proceedings after the restart and looked on course for another league win. However, Willem II capitalised on one of their few opportunities when Devin Haen finished coolly past Jari de Busser after being set up by Uriël van Aalst. AZ pushed for a late winner, with Jizz Hornkamp and Wesley Pattati both going close, but Willem II held firm to earn a valuable point.
AZ now switch their focus to Wednesday’s Europa League clash with Sunderland, while Willem II, who have collected just two points from five matches, face Ajax in a rescheduled fixture on Tuesday night as they continue their search for a first league win of the campaign.
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2026
FC TWENTE 2-0 ADO DEN HAAG
Saturday’s games began with FC Twente securing a comfortable victory over ADO Den Haag, but the score line only began to reflect their dominance after the break. The hosts started brightly at De Grolsch Veste and came close to an early opener when Sondre Ørjasæter struck the post. Twente continued to create chances throughout the first half, only to be frustrated by an inspired performance from ADO keeper Kilian Nikièma, who denied Wout Weghorst with an excellent save and kept the score level at the interval. ADO’s best chance fell to Jalen Hawkins, but he fired wide from a promising position.
The breakthrough finally arrived on the hour mark when Twente were awarded a penalty following a foul on Daouda Weidmann. After missing from the spot against Telstar earlier in the week, Weghorst made no mistake this time, confidently converting for his first home goal at De Grolsch Veste. The striker’s relief was evident as Twente took a deserved lead.
Veteran central defender Robin Pröpper wrapped up the victory with just over 15 minutes remaining, heading home from a corner after Nikièma had once again denied Weghorst. Twente continued to threaten in the closing stages but were unable to add a third. Head coach John van den Brom praised both his side’s performance and their development, highlighting the progress made in winning matches they may have dropped points in last season.
GO AHEAD EAGLES 1-1 FC GRONINGEN
Go Ahead Eagles rescued a dramatic late point with FC Groningen after dominating large spells of the contest at De Adelaarshorst. The hosts created the better chances from the outset, with Melle Meulensteen going close early on, while Groningen stopper Etienne Vaessen was repeatedly called into action. Despite offering little going forward, the visitors took the lead after 32 minutes when Brynjólfur Willumsson produced a fine finish against the run of play, for his fourth goal in six games.
The Eagles responded strongly and continued to push for an equaliser, but Vaessen proved difficult to beat, denying both Mathis Suray and Søren Tengstedt before the break. Groningen spent much of the second half pinned back in their own half, with Dick Lukkien’s side largely focused on protecting their advantage as Go Ahead kept applying pressure.
That pressure finally paid off eight minutes from time when the in-form Tengstedt thundered home a deserved equaliser – now five goals in six starts this season. Sensing an opportunity to complete the turnaround, Go Ahead pushed for a winner and came agonisingly close, only for Stefán Ingi Sigurdarson to miss a huge chance from close range. As a result, the points were shared, although Joseph Oosting’s side will feel they did enough to deserve all three.
FORTUNA SITTARD 1-5 AJAX
Ajax eventually pulled away to claim a convincing 5-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard on Saturday evening, as the hosts proved difficult to break down. Fortuna held firm for long periods and briefly restored parity in the second half, but Ajax’s quality told in the closing stages. Thilo Kehrer was one of the standout performers, marking his first start for the club with a goal and an assist.
They both enjoyed positive spells during the opening exchanges, but it was Ajax who gradually established control. After Steven Berghuis had gone close, Julian Brandt threatened repeatedly and eventually broke the deadlock. The German midfielder unleashed a powerful drive that flew beyond Mattijs Branderhorst to give Ajax a deserved lead. Fortuna’s response was limited, although Ole Romeny, back after suspension, did test Marc ter Stegen with a well-struck effort.
Ajax had an excellent opportunity to double their advantage shortly after the restart. Jorthy Mokio, preferred in midfield ahead of Davy Klaassen, found himself in space but dragged his shot wide. The youngster was included in the starting line-up following Sofyan Amrabat’s first start in midfield, while Kehrer was handed his debut start in defence in place of the injured Aaron Bouwman.
The match turned shortly afterwards. Fortuna found an equaliser when substitute Anthony Descotte benefited from a fortunate bounce before calmly slotting home to tied the game up, but Ajax responded impressively. Ten minutes after conceding, Tolu Arokodare struck the crossbar from close range, and Kehrer reacted quickest to convert the rebound and restore Ajax’s lead.
Kehrer continued to play a decisive role as Ajax took complete control. The defender nodded a Viktor Tsygankov cross back across goal, allowing Klaassen to finish for 3-1. With Fortuna’s resistance broken, Ajax added further gloss to the score line.
It’s a wonder Kasper Dolberg remembered what a goal celebration looked like when he netted his first Ajax goal since January 2026, before Youri Baas completed the rout with a late header to seal an emphatic 5-1 win.
SC CAMBUUR 3-0 NEC NIJMEGEN
NEC’s difficult run of form continued on Saturday evening as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat away to SC Cambuur. The hosts were the better side throughout in Leeuwarden, securing only their first victory of the campaign while deepening NEC’s early-season frustrations.
Cambuur entered the contest with just a single point from their opening five league matches, but they showed far greater urgency from the outset, while NEC struggled to match the intensity of the home side. Cambuur created the first major opportunity after eleven minutes. Nicolas Binder found space in the box but failed to make proper contact with the ball when well placed to score.
The warning signs were there for Dick Schreuder’s men, yet Cambuur continued to find openings with ease. Their pressure was rewarded after 21 minutes when Ilyes Hamache arrived unmarked at the far post to tap home the opening goal. NEC were fortunate not to fall further behind before the break, with goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz recovering from a costly mistake and Devid Bouah sending two headed opportunities narrowly wide.
Cambuur resumed where they had left off after half-time. Bouah again threatened from a corner, but his effort was blocked, before Hamache struck for a second time in the 54th minute. Once more, NEC’s defence failed to deal with the danger, allowing the winger far too much freedom in the final third. The visitors never truly recovered. While NEC enjoyed more possession as they searched for a way back into the contest, clear-cut chances remained scarce. Any hopes of a late comeback were extinguished in the closing stages when Iwan Henstra added a third goal, completing a memorable evening for Cambuur and a miserable one for the visitors.
The defeat leaves NEC with little time to dwell on their performance, with a Europa League trip to Juventus awaiting on Thursday. However, the frustration surrounding the result spilled over after full-time as captain Tjaronn Chery became involved in a heated exchange with a section of the travelling supporters and had to be restrained by teammates.
SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2026
EXCELSIOR 1-2 FC UTRECHT
FC Utrecht finally got off the mark on Sunday afternoon, securing a dramatic victory away to Excelsior. The obviously relieved Anthony Correia, looked on as his side seemed to be frustrated after surrendering their lead late on, but a stoppage-time winner from captain Dani de Wit ensured he claimed their first league win.
The visitors made an energetic start almost finding the breakthrough within the opening minute. Adrian Blake struck the post, while Ángel Alarcón was denied by an alert Stijn van Gassel, who produced several important saves throughout the afternoon. Excelsior also threatened, with Aymen Sliti forcing Vasilios Barkas into action at the other end.
Despite the lively opening stages, clear chances became scarce until Utrecht broke the deadlock nine minutes before half-time. Arthur Zagré surged down the left flank and picked out 19-year-old Artem Stepanov, who finished confidently to score his fifth goal of the season, giving the visitors a deserved lead.
Excelsior emerged into the second half with a renewed purpose and pushed for an equaliser. Sliti continued to cause problems, while Utrecht looked to freshen things up with the introductions of Yoann Cathline, Sem van Duijn and Marius Broholm. The pressure eventually paid off in the 77th minute when Sliti finally beat Barkas to level the score. The equaliser appeared likely to earn Excelsior a valuable point, but Utrecht had other ideas.
As the match entered its closing moments, Dani de Wit snatched on hesitant defending from Excelsior and produced a composed chipped finish over Van Gassel to restore Utrecht’s lead. The late strike proved decisive, sealing a hard-fought win.
SC HEERENVEEN 0-0 TELSTAR
Heerenveen were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Telstar, despite creating the better opportunities throughout. Striker Dylan Vente twice went close before the break, while Heerenveen winger Maxence Rivera also tested Ronald Koeman Jr., but neither side could find the breakthrough in an evenly contested first half.
In the second half, Telstar had a renewed intent and threatened through Nökkvi Thórisson. However, Heerenveen soon regained control and pushed for a winner. Rivera, Vente and the hosts’ attacking unit continued to ask questions, only for Koeman to produce several important saves to preserve a clean sheet. Despite late pressure from the home side, Telstar held firm to secure a point, leaving the visitors on five points from six matches and Heerenveen on six.
PEC ZWOLLE 0-7 FEYENOORD
PEC Zwolle, suffered their heaviest home loss in their Eredivisie history as Feyenoord produced a ruthless display, winning 7-0 and coming within a single goal of matching the club’s biggest-ever away league victory. Fresh from their heavy Champions League 5-1 defeat to Barcelona, the Rotterdammers responded in good fashion, completely overwhelming a PEC team that offered little resistance throughout the contest.
The visitors signalled their intent early, with Givairo Read striking both posts inside the opening minutes. Feyenoord’s dominance was eventually rewarded before the break, as Nacho Ferri played a key role in a three-goal first half. PEC defender Simon Graves was credited with the opener after deflecting Ferri’s effort into the net, before the Spaniard added a second from a Read assist. Gjivai Zechiël then made it 3-0 shortly before half-time as Feyenoord turned their superiority into a commanding lead.
There was no let-up after the interval as Ferri completed his brace to make it 4-0, while Feyenoord continued to carve open the Zwolle defence with ease. Anis Hadj Moussa added a fifth, and substitute Jivayno Zinhagel marked his first-team breakthrough with a goal for 6-0, again created by the influential Read, who finished with three assists.
Hadj Moussa capped the afternoon with a brilliant solo effort to complete the 7-0 score line as PEC’s supporters voiced their frustration from the stands. The result left Feyenoord one goal shy of equalling their biggest-ever league victory, 8-0 against Fortuna ’54 (1959) and matched against Volendam (1963).
PSV 4-1 SPARTA ROTTERDAM
PSV came from behind to secure a convincing 4-1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam, with Sven Mijnans starring at the Philips Stadion with a superb hat-trick. The reigning champions recovered from an early setback to maintain their strong start to the season and move to the top of the table on goal difference.
The visitors stunned PSV after 15 minutes when Milan Zonneveld capitalised on a costly error from goalkeeper Matej Kovar. A chipped pass over the defence appeared harmless, but Kovar completely missed his attempted clearance, leaving Zonneveld with the easiest finish of his life. Peter Bosz’s side responded positively and were back on level terms eight minutes later as Esmir Bajraktarevic delivered an inviting cross that Mijnans headed beyond Michael Brouwer.
Their dominance began to show before the break when summer signing Kodai Sano, making his mark after his recent Champions League debut, scored his first goal for the club in spectacular fashion. The Japanese midfielder unleashed a powerful low drive from around 25 metres that slipped underneath Brouwer and into the net, completing the turnaround just before the break.
The hosts never looked back after the interval. Mijnans grabbed his second goal of the evening to extend PSV’s lead before completing his hat-trick in style with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the area. PSV controlled proceedings throughout, finishing with the vast majority of possession and chances, as Bosz’s men cruised to a 4-1 victory and returned to the summit of the Eredivisie standings.
We have midweek Eredivisie action with Ajax welcoming Willem II to the Johan Cruyff Arena as they look to keep pace in the title race. PSV sit top of the table on goal difference ahead of AZ, while Ajax trail the leading duo by six points in fifth place.
A victory on Tuesday would halve that deficit to just three points, move up to fourth and apply a little pressure on the teams above them. Will Burns expects the Amsterdammers to get the job done, although Willem II possess enough threat of their own.
AJAX
Last weekend, De Godenzonen were looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals PSV, and they appeared in danger of dropping points for only the third time in the league this season when they entered the final half-hour of their match on Saturday against Fortuna Sittard. They were locked at 1-1 but Michael’s men produced a devastating late surge, scoring four times in the final half hour to secure an emphatic 5-1 victory.
In the league, they have struggled to turn the Johan Cruyff Arena into a fortress. Ajax are now winless in their last five home league matches stretching back to last season, collecting just two points from a possible 15, a statistic that may leave some supporters feeling uneasy ahead of Tuesday’s encounter. However, recent trends suggest there is every chance those concerns could quickly fade.
Ajax have opened the scoring in eight of their last 11 matches and will be confident of making another fast start against a Willem II side that has conceded the first goal in five of the previous six meetings between the clubs.
Michel will once again be without loan signing Simon Adingra, who remains sidelined with a foot injury and is still awaiting his Ajax debut. There are also concerns at the back, with experienced defender Daley Blind and young centre-back Aaron Bouwman both expected to be unavailable. However, Ajax have coped well in their absence, with the central defensive partnership of Youri Baas and Thilo Kehrer helping to steady the back line while also contributing at the other end of the pitch, with both finding the net in Saturday’s thumping of Fortuna Sittard.
One of the biggest positives for the hosts is the form of Davy Klaassen. The 33-year-old midfielder has enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign with four goals in the five games, and was once again on target in Saturday’s win at Fortuna.
WILLEM II
Scoring 19 goals last season, Devin Haen has continued to be the Tilburgers’ standout performer this season, with three goals in five starts. The 22-year-old, in his second season with the club, was on target last week netting a late equaliser with 10 minutes remaining against then league-leaders AZ Alkmaar, to earn his side a hard-fought away point.
Although that result delivered only Willem II’s second point of the campaign, the determination and resilience shown at the AFAS Stadion should provide a welcome confidence boost ahead of this difficult trip. Alongside ADO Den Haag, John Stegemen’s men remain one of only two Eredivisie sides yet to record a league victory this season. If they are to end that wait against Ajax, significant improvement is required in the final third. Willem II have managed just five league goals so far, the joint-lowest tally in the division alongside Telstar.
What will not help their cause is the several injury concerns at the moment. Jari Schuurman (back), Anass Zarrouk (surgery) and Amine Lackhar (groin) remain unavailable, while Thomas Didillon and Justin Hoogma continue their recoveries from hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Elsewhere, deadline-day arrival Vito van Crooy has yet to regain full fitness.
ANALYSIS
Ajax’s can’t be satisfied with their home form, averaging 1.7 goals scored and 1.88 conceded per game at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, figures that, if they continue, will fall short of the standards expected from a side with title ambitions.
Despite the underwhelming home record by their standards, Ajax remain strong favourites for this clash. The gulf in quality between these sides is difficult to ignore and Willem II’s away form has been nothing short of disastrous. The visitors have collected just one point from four away fixtures and are conceding close to three goals per game on their travels. Their recent LLDLD sequence also reflects a side struggling for confidence, whereas Ajax’s WDWLW run suggests they are still capable of delivering results when required.
I am not one looking at head-to-head but I fully understand that you may be so… recent meetings between the two, as you’d imagine, have been largely dominated by the Amsterdam side. Since 2018, the clubs have faced each other nine times in league games, producing 25 goals at an average of 2.78 per game. Interestingly, the majority of those goals have arrived after the interval, with 13 scored in the second half, averaging 1.44 goals per match.
The fixtures have also generated plenty of attacking intent, with 63 shots on target recorded across the nine encounters, seven per game on average. Ajax have been responsible for the vast majority of that threat, registering 48 efforts on target. Overall, recent history points towards Ajax controlling proceedings, creating the lion’s share of chances and regularly finding the breakthrough against the Tricolores.
Back to current day, Michel’s men have shown their defensive frailties, and the numbers point towards an entertaining contest with goals at both ends, but one that ultimately favours the home side. I see a 3-1 or 4-1 victory to Ajax with the attacking quality proving decisive despite conceding a consolation goal.
PREDICTION
Ajax should have too much, but after only kept one clean sheet in the last nine, I see them conceding. Also Davy Klaassen is my pick to continue this scoring form.
If you joining me with this selections, good luck.
⚽️ BET 1: Ajax win/Both Teams to Score 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.20 at Paddy Power/Sky Bet ⚽️ BET 2: Davy Klaassen to score Best Odds: 2.75 at Bet365
I caught a bit of the Twente game the other night and I had no idea how they only won 1-0 at home to SC Telstar. Twenty-two shots, eight of them on target, only one goal. Telstar hardly laid a glove on them and John van den Brom’s boys were out for blood… but only got a drop. On Saturday, they play ADO Den Haag, again at home and the week after they host PSV. They are in very good fifth position currently with ten points and will obviously want another win here, before the champions roll into town.
Having scored 10 goals and conceded five across their opening five league matches, Twente head into this fixture in strong form. ADO, meanwhile, find themselves in a very different situation. Sitting 17th in the table, they have collected just one point from their first five games. Their defensive struggles are reflected in the 14 goals conceded, while they have managed only six at the other end.
Their opening 2-0 defeat away at AZ was hardly a cause for concern, but the subsequent 4-1 home loss to Groningen raised alarm bells. That was followed by a 3-1 defeat at Go Ahead Eagles before they earned a commendable 2-2 draw at De Kuip, a venue where they have a habit of producing surprising results against Feyenoord.
Last weekend, ADO suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Fortuna Sittard, one of the early surprise packages of the campaign. Despite their poor results, I can see ADO finding the net here. They have scored in every match since drawing a blank against AZ and have netted twice in each of their last two outings.
With points desperately needed, I would not completely rule out an upset either. Twente recorded their first clean sheet of the season in Wednesday’s dominant victory over Telstar, but ADO’s attacking threat and sense of urgency could make them awkward opponents. A draw would certainly not surprise, then again, nothing in the league does. Hold on, didn’t a goalkeeper score two goals last weekend?
Both Teams to Score and Over 3.5 Goals pay £23.50 off £10.
GO AHEAD EAGLES VS. FC GRONINGEN
Three bets in this one as it’s a game I really like. First up, goals again on the cards here. The hosts have saw some goals at both ends in the first five games of the campaign. They won their opening contest 4-1 at home to Willem II, then drew at De Kuip (sound familiar?) by 2-2. Then a 3-1 win at home to ADO Den Haag, then thumped 5-2 by AZ at the AFAS Stadion before last weekend’s six goal thriller, a 3-3 away in Utrecht, a match that lasted many days due to crowd issues last Saturday.
Sitting seventh in the table with eight points, they have been involved in plenty of action at both ends of the pitch, scoring 14 goals and conceding 12 in their opening five matches. Their opponents on Saturday evening, FC Groningen, have posted similar numbers, finding the net 11 times while also shipping 12 goals. They currently sit 10th with seven points.
Dick Lukkien’s side shared a 2-2 draw with FC Twente last weekend, having suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Fortuna Sittard the week before. Prior to that, they were thrashed 5-1 by PSV at the Philips Stadion, although they had handed out a heavy defeat of their own a week earlier with a convincing 4-1 win away in Den Haag.
They also began the campaign with a 2-1 home victory over Utrecht, meaning their record after five matches stands at two wins, one draw and two defeats. Overall, it has been a respectable start to the season and their scoring goals, but their goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen has been busy picking the ball out of his net far too much. It’s a big price of 3.80 at Betfair for Over 4.5 Goals for these two sides who have hit it six times in the 10 combined games in the season thus far.
Another factor to consider is that neither side looks particularly likely to keep a clean sheet. Both teams have been vulnerable defensively throughout the season, which makes goals at both ends a strong possibility. I also took a look at the corner markets, and both teams to record at least four corners appeals. Go Ahead Eagles have won four or more corners in every league match this season, reaching five or more in four of those five games. They have also allowed five or more corners to their opponents in three of those fixtures.
Groningen’s numbers are similarly encouraging. They have earned at least four corners in four of their five matches, with the only exception coming in the 4-1 victory over ADO Den Haag. They have generally been solid in limiting opposition corner counts as well, only conceding five or more twice all season: nine against PSV and five against ADO. The Builder with BTTS and Both Teams Four or More Corners is 2.90 at Bet365.
Finally, one player I overlooked last weekend, and I shouldn’t have, is Go Ahead Eagles right-winger Soren Tengstedt. The Dane has scored four goals in his last five appearances and looks well placed to add to that tally in what could be another high-scoring contest.
What stands out is his efficiency. Tengstedt has registered just five shots on target across those five matches, yet four of them have ended up in the back of the net. Although he does take an average 2.37 shots per 90 so far this season and with his confidence high, the opportuities are likely to come in a game that promises chances at both ends, he is an attractive price. Sky Bet are offering 3.50 for Tengstedt to score anytime, and I’m not making the same mistake again this weekend.
⚽️ FC TWENTE VS. ADO DEN HAAG Both Teams to Score/Over 3.5 Goals 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.35 at Sky Bet ⚽️ GO AHEAD EAGLES VS. FC GRONINGEN Over 4.5 Goals 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.80 at Betfair
⚽️ GO AHEAD EAGLES VS. FC GRONINGEN Both Teams to Score & Both Teams 4 or more corners 💷 1pt Best Odds: 2.90 at Bet365 ⚽️Soren Tengstedt to score (Go Ahead) 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.50 at Sky Bet
Just a quick article to cover two more Eerste Divisie goalscorers who fit the criteria for Saturday and Sunday in this weekend’s Dutch Double.
I like the profiles of Naoufal Bannis for Vitesse Arnhem and Henk Veerman for FC Volendam. First up, Vitesse travel to Roda JC on Saturday afternoon, with Bannis looking set to lead the line once again after finding the net in last week’s Friday Night Goalscorer Treble.
The Moroccan striker has enjoyed a staggering start to the campaign, scoring six goals in just five league outings. Across those starts, he has registered 14 shots on target, averaging 2.80 SOT per 90 minutes, which emphasises his goal scoring consistency. If you prefer to avoid the double, Bannis is available at 2.62 with BetMGM in the anytime goal scorer market.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Henk Veerman is no stranger to this division or to finding the back of the net. In fact, his current form surpasses that of Bannis, with seven goals in five league outings, including a four-goal haul against FC Dordrecht on 28th August. A proven performer at this level, Veerman has scored 78 goals in 125 Eerste Divisie appearances during his career.
He is a much shorter price at 1.70 with both BetMGM and Betfred and, as regular readers will know, we do not back odds-on selections here. Instead, Veerman joins Bannis as the second leg of this weekend’s Dutch Double.
⚽️ THE DUTCH DOUBLE Naoufal Bannis (Vitesse) to score Henk Veerman (FC Volendam) to score 💷 1pt Best Odds: 4.45 at BetMGM
A bumper issue this Friday night for the Dutch First Division and I have a total of SEVEN bets for you. A treble, two six-timers and four singles all at incredibly good odds. No low priced bullshit here. Let’s GO!
GOALSCORER TREBLE
Over the years, I’ve found it profitable to combine three of the most in‑form strikers into a treble — provided the odds make sense.
Ferdy Druijf of Almere City let us down for the big winning treble last week missing a penalty. However, I’m sticking with him and Tristan Van Glist of Heracles Almelo. Druijf has notched five in five and Van Glist has got six in five, plus they are both on penalty kicks, unless Ferdy has been took off them by the gaffer.
Third is Jong PSV’s 18-year-old American striker Austyn Jones. I was so close to adding him in different bet last week at a cracking 2.88 price… and I didn’t… and he scored. I follow PSV very closely with having family in Eindhoven and Mr. Jones is a lad I had spotted for a while especially last year, when he scored nine goals in just eight games at Under-19 level.
He made his debut for Jong PSV at just 17, scoring four goals in 17 appearances, mostly those coming off the bench. In April last year, he broke through with three goals in two starts and over the last two matches, he’s taken on a leading role, starting as the number nine and scoring in both, after previously coming off the bench against RKC Waalwijk, where he also found the net. He rounds this week’s Goalscorer Treble.
MORE GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
We fell just one short on the Over 2.5 and two off the Over 3.5 accas last Friday, argh. With more games tonight (and a couple I’m avoiding), I’ve stuck with six again. Same plan as before: two accumulators, one for Over 2.5 Goals and one for Over 3.5 across all fixtures, because they land more often than the odds suggest.
Last week’s seven matches all produced at least three goals, and only two missed the four‑goal line. In Week 2, six games were played and only one finished under two goals. Tonight, the Over 2.5 acca pays £74.70 from a tenner, while the Over 3.5 returns £266 from £5.
I’ve put one point on the three‑plus‑goals acca and half a point on the four‑plus‑goals version. Hopefully we start hitting these consistently over the coming months.
Jong Ajax vs. RKC Waalwijk
FC Eindhoven vs. FC Dordrecht
FC Emmen vs. De Graafschap
Heracles Almelo vs. Jong AZ
NAC Breda vs. Jong FC Utrecht
VVV-Venlo vs. TOP Oss
FC EMMEN VS. DE GRAAFSCHAP
Freddy Quispel has quietly become one of the standout performers of the season. The FC Emmen forward has already scored six goals in five games, a huge jump from last year’s four in 27 and just one in 22 the season before. He’s hit a real purple patch, and against De Graafschap his to score anytime price looks far too big.
At 3.30 with BetMGM, the value is excellent. De Graafschap have been leaking goals at an alarming rate: five against Heracles, four to Almere City, two to VVV Venlo, and five at home to Jong AZ. They are haemorrhaging goals, and with Quispel in this kind of form, I can’t not put a point on here at least.
HERACLES ALMELO VS. JONG AZ ALKMAAR
That man again. Jean-Paul N’Djoli of Heracles got a hat-trick last week against De Graafschap. N’Djoli has scored NINE goals in the first five games of the season. He has scored at least two goals in FOUR games now.
BetMGM have at 12.00 for a hat-trick again this week which is worth half a point, and I’m sticking at point on him to score two at 4.50.
JONG AJAX VS. RKC WAALWIJK
And one last one and we should have been on him for a while but strangely his price is still standing up. Emre Unuvar is yet another guy that’s scored five goals in six games, and there’s another too. More on him in a moment. But Unuvar is priced up at 3.40 again at BetMGM, against a RKC Waalwijk side that has yet to keep a clean sheet this season and conceded two in three of the five games. He’s an official selection.
Another guy that you might want to keep an eye on is Diego Pugno. The 20-year-old Italian striker signed on loan from Juventus in the summer and has scored four goals in six games and has picked up three yellow cards so far – but we can’t bet on them. A goal for him is priced at 2.88. A decent price but I opted for the higher priced Unuvar for our official selection here.
That rounds out all the bets for a big Friday. Good luck!
⚽️ GOALSCORER TREBLE Ferdy Druijf (Almere City) Tristan Van Glist (Heracles) Austyn Jones (Jong PSV) 💷 1pt Best Odds: 12.00 at BetMGM (Boosted) ⚽️ OVER 2.5 GOALS ACCA 💷 1pt Best Odds: 7.47 at Bet365 ⚽️ OVER 3.5 GOALS ACCA 💷 0.5pt Best Odds: 53.36 at Bet365
⚽️ Freddy Quispel to score (FC Emmen) 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.30 at BetMGM
⚽️Emre Unuvar to score (Jong Ajax) 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.40 at BetMGM
⚽️Jean-Paul N’Djoli to score 2 or more goals (Heracles) 💷 0.75pt Best Odds: 4.50 at BetMGM
⚽️Jean-Paul N’Djoli to score 3 or more goals (Heracles) 💷 0.5pt Best Odds: 13.00 at BetMGM
Three, well two and a half, matches took place this week as the Eredivisie was catching up with the teams that were postponed in Week 3 due to European qualifying commitments. Will Burns is helping you catch up.
I have attached highlights from the clubs’ official YouTube channel where available so you can watch while you read along.
TUESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2026
FC UTRECHT 3-3 GO AHEAD EAGLES
Utrecht were trailing 3-1 after their match last Saturday was suspended due to fan protests involving fireworks and cups on the pitch, but they staged a dramatic comeback during Tuesday’s 30-minute resumption behind closed doors.
Matisse Didden sparked the rally with a header in the 76th minute from a Davy van den Berg corner. Late in the match, Adrian Blake drew a clumsy foul from Alfons Sampsted, resulting in an 89th-minute penalty. Bayer Leverkusen loanee Artem Stepanov converted the spot-kick past goalkeeper Kjetil Haug to seal a thrilling 3-3 draw.
The hard-fought point marks FC Utrecht’s first at home this season, lifting Anthony Correia’s side out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles moved up to sixth place in the standings, positioning themselves ahead of teams like Ajax, Twente, and Groningen.
NEC NIJMEGEN 2-2 EXCELSIOR
NEC salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw against the exciting Excelsior, denying the visitors a historic start to the season. Making eight changes, NEC capitalised early when starting debutant Adam Tahaui fired home the opening goal in the tenth minute. Excelsior responded before half time, as the impressive Georgian midfielder Irakli Yegoian set up David Garden to level the score at 1-1.
The second half featured end-to-end action, with chances falling to both sides before debutant Valentin Sulzbacher put Excelsior ahead 2-1 with his very first touch after coming on from Red Bull Salzburg. Though NEC pressed for an equalizer, including a close-range header wide from Dusan Tadic, they finally broke through during injury time.
Noé Lebreton popped up in the right place to fire home the 2-2 equalizer, dealing a heavy blow to Ruben den Uil’s side, who missed out on a potential third-place leap in the standings.
WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2026
FC TWENTE 1-0 SC TELSTAR
Twente narrowly secured a 1-0 victory over Telstar on Wednesday evening, with John van den Brom’s side dominating chances but struggling with their accuracy in front of goal. The Twente head coach made several tactical adjustments, including starting Aske Adelgaard at left-back and giving Dusan Rots’ usual spot up front to other options while bringing on Robin Pröpper later in the game.
Despite facing a Telstar team featuring goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr., who recently made Eredivisie history, Twente kept up the pressure. After early chances and a powerful shot against the post by Younes Taha, the breakthrough finally arrived three-quarters of the way through the match. Taha provided an excellent cross from the right, allowing Sondre Ørjasaeter to score his first goal of the season with a brilliant falling shot over Koeman Jr.
Although Wout Weghorst had a late opportunity to double the lead from a penalty after being fouled in the box, his spot-kick was saved by last week’s hero Koeman Jr. Nevertheless, the lone goal proved sufficient for the Tukkers to take all three points ahead of their upcoming home match against ADO Den Haag.
We have midweek Eredivisie action this week as NEC face Excelsior on Tuesday and FC Twente host Telstar on Wednesday. These matches were rearranged from Matchday Three as both NEC and Twente were given the week off to qualify for Europe.
Meanwhile, first up, Tuesday early evening, NEC and Excelsior are searching for consistency after mixed starts to the season; NEC hope to feed off the home crowd, while Excelsior remain dangerous on the counterattack. Will Burns thinks goals is the best way to play this one.
NEC
Dick Schreuder’s NEC have always been entertaining and this season has proved no different. Finishing third last season, meant they had a chance to qualify for the Champions League in early August. They impressively dispatched Olympiakos over two legs before falling to Bodo/Glimt by an aggregate of 6-1. NEC’s keeper Gonzalo Crettaz was sent off inside three minutes of the second leg in Norway, and the Nijmegen side never recovered. They have dropped into the Europa League and have a visit to Juventus to look forward to their opening game later this month.
In between the European adventure, they sit in 10th in the Eredivisie on six points after losing both home games, and winning both their away and the goals have been raining in. Opening day, lost 2-1 at home to Telstar, then defeated Willem II 4-1 in Tilburg, followed up by beating PEC Zwolle 3-1 and then returning home last weekend to lose 3-1 to Feyenoord. A total of nine goals scored while letting seven in.
Kaj Sierhuis leads the line with two goals, operating mainly as a penalty‑box finisher. Bryan Linssen, now aged 35, adds another scoring option, while 37-year-old Dusan Tadic and 38-year-old Tjarron Chery provides creativity from midfield. Jamiro Monteiro anchors the centre of the pitch, tasked with slowing Excelsior’s transitions.
After Saturday’s defeat, NEC need a reset. It’s a chance to steady themselves in front of their own supporters, but the task is obvious: defend better and stop Excelsior from breaking in transition. That’s easier said than done. One of NEC’s most reliable defenders, Deveron Fonville, is sidelined, and his usual partner Philippe Sandler remains doubtful after missing five straight matches.
In recent games, NEC have relied on 36‑year‑old Bram Nuytinck, who made only seven league appearances last season, alongside 20‑year‑old Almugera Kabar. The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund is still adjusting to Eredivisie tempo — he hasn’t completed a full match yet, logging 15, 8, 45, 45 and 72 minutes across his last five outings. He started all of the last three but was substituted in each of them, highlighting NEC’s ongoing instability at centre‑back.
And against a free scoring Excelsior side… that could be a major problem.
EXCELSIOR
Excelsior arrive in significantly better form and sit fifth in the Eredivisie. They’ve been scoring freely and defending with real structure, netting ten goals and conceding only three across their first four matches. Their wins have been emphatic, 4–0 against Cambuur, 2–1 over Sparta, and 3–0 away at Willem II with only PSV managing to stop them, winning 2–1 in a match where, as expected, the champions controlled empathically.
Georgian midfielder Irakli Yegoian has been quite the revelation this season, scoring twice and three assists in the opening four games. The 22-year-old striker, David Garden, a summer signing from Quick Boys of the Tweede Divisie, has scored two goals, and looks set the lead the line in Nijmegen. The pace of Aymen Sliti down the right flank is exciting for the viewers and frightening for full-backs, while Icelandic winger Agust Thorsteinsson will be on the left. He signed from Breidablik midway through last month. Another summer signing, Iranian international Alireza Jahanbakhsh could feature against his old club, if he is fit after missing the game at the weekend due to injury.
Excelsior’s biggest strength is their efficiency: fewer chances, more goals, and a defensive unit that bends but rarely breaks.
ANALYSIS
Looking at the head-to-head results across the past five seasons, the two sides have met six times. Dick Schreuder’s team came out on top in four of those encounters, while Ruben den Uil’s side managed just one victory, with one match ending in a draw. Those fixtures produced a total of 22 goals, which is an average of 3.67 goals per game and the second half proved to be the most productive period. Sixteen of the 22 goals scored after the interval, working out to an average of 2.67 second‑half goals per match, highlighting how often these contests open up as the game progresses. In total, the teams generated 45 shots on target, averaging 7.5 per match. NEC were responsible for the majority of those efforts, recording 25 shots on goal.
If you look at the last five league matches of both clubs, Excelsior is doing better on paper. The Rotterdam outfit has won four games and lost one, while NEC has won three times and lost twice.
PREDICTION
I truly think Excelsior could get the job done here with Irakli Yegoian playing a big role again. The Georgian to score or assist is a big 3.30 at BetMGM and he managed both at the weekend against Willem II.
Excelsior are more than capable of scoring two and I’ve added that as part a builder at BetMGM. NEC have conceded at least two goals to Telstar, Bodo/Glimt twice and Feyenoord already this season, the missing first-team defenders, the inexperience at the back make this look more likely for me. NEC has scored at least one goals in five or the last six games, Excelsior has conceded goals to Sparta and PSV so far so Both Teams to Score seems probable too.
⚽️ BET 1: Both Teams to Score 2 or More Goals 💷 0.75pt Best Odds: 3.50 at Paddy Power ⚽️ BET 2: Irakli Yegoian to score or assist 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.30 at BetMGM ⚽️ BET BUILDER Excelsior to score two or more goals Both Teams to Score Irakli Yegoian to score or assist Irakli Yegoian to have a shot on target 💷 0.75pt Best Odds: 5.60 at BetMGM
We came so close nailing all four bets on Friday night in the Eerste Divisie and Monday night sees two more games, but I want to focus on FC Eindhoven’s trips to Utrecht for our next selection. Let’s get it.
PREVIEW
FC EINDHOVEN head into their clash with Jong FC Utrecht looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-1 home defeat to Heracles Almelo. Despite showing resilience at the Jan Louwers Stadium, the Blue and Whites were undone in the second half by the unbeaten visitors. This was their third defeat in a row but Manager Jan Poortvliet will hope that his Deadline Day reinforcements can inject fresh energy into his squad.
Danish attacking midfielder Lasse Abildgaard joined on loan from Willem II for the remainder of the season, while Rayan Buifrahi, a 21‑year‑old Moroccan‑Belgian winger, arrived on a free from Club Brugge. Both players are expected to bring pace and creativity to Eindhoven’s attack, although their history suggest they remain talents with something to prove.
Abildgaard began his career at Silkeborg in his homeland before being snapped up by Ajax at just 16. He made five appearances for Jong Ajax, scoring once, before moving to Willem II in January, where he featured four times as a substitute. Buifrahi, meanwhile, spent two seasons at MVV Maastricht before heading to Brugge, playing 59 matches and contributing just three goals and five assists. While neither player arrives with an exciting résumé, they will be eager to seize this new opportunity and establish themselves as key figures in Eindhoven’s push for consistency this season.
Eindhoven began the season positively with a late 1–0 win at Jong AZ, courtesy of Owen Renfrum’s header, but have since struggled to maintain consistency losing their next three. However, a 3-2 loss to MVV (2nd place currently), a 5-2 defeat away to Den Bosch (15th) and last weeks’ 3-1 home loss to table toppers Heracles, shows a side who have scored three goals against the top two teams in the division. Their opponents tonight, are neither of those sides.
With new signings in place and a point to prove, FC Eindhoven will aim to rediscover their winning form against JONG FC UTRECHT and I think they can. Utrecht’s young side come into the game in dreadful form, losing all five of their opening matches and sit bottom of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. Although their schedule included MVV and Heracles too.
Their campaign began with a narrow 2–1 defeat away to MVV Maastricht, followed by a 3–1 home loss to Vitesse. Then a heavy 6–1 defeat against Heracles in Utrecht marked their lowest point so far. A 2–1 loss at TOP Oss came next, and last week Jong AZ edged them out with another tight 2–1 score line.
SELECTION
I think the hosts will win here as they do have the superior side and they have been finding the net, however, I’m unsure they can keep a clean sheet. In all five games for Jong Utrecht, both teams have found the net with at least three goals so if I feel Eindhoven can grab the win, I think there’s a chance we see goals at both ends. Eindhoven’s only win was in their opening game, the 1-0 win against Jong AZ, after that the goals have flew in, scoring five and conceding 11.
It’s early days in this league still but goals have been consistent throughout the league, throughout the country in fact.
⚽️ FC Eindhoven win/Over 2.5 Goals 💷 1pt Best Odds: 3.50 at Bet365
Crazy. Just another weekend in the Eredivisie. We have a huge PSV-Ajax match which ended in controversy. We have yet another match abandonment due to crowd trouble. And we have a goalkeeper that scores twice in a match.
Yes, this is the Eredivisie – Week Five writes Will Burns.
I have attached highlights from the clubs’ official YouTube channel where available so you can watch while you read along.
FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2026
SPARTA ROTTERDAM 2-2 PEC ZWOLLE
Isaac Babadi came close to producing a dream debut for Sparta, as the PSV loanee scored with his very first touches, seemingly setting the Kasteelheren on course for a 2–1 home win over PEC Zwolle. But ten minutes before full-time, Koen Kostons struck the equaliser, denying the hosts all three points.
Sparta began with new centre midfielder Cedric Hatenboer in the starting XI, giving the arrival from Anderlecht an immediate chance to prove himself, with new goalkeeper Michael Brouwer also featuring from the start. For Zwolle, Ibrahima Cissoko was preferred on the left-wing, while Sydney van Hooijdonk began on the bench.
PEC opened the scoring just past the twenty‑minute mark with a razor‑sharp counter-attack. Dylan Mbayo released Cissoko, who finished confidently. Their advantage didn’t last long though as Milan Zonneveld rose highest from a Julian Baas corner and headed in his third goal of the season to tie the game up.
At half-time, Sparta coach Rogier Meijer made adjustments, withdrawing Casper Terho and introducing Babadi, and the PSV man had an instant impact. After receiving a pass from Zonneveld, he controlled the ball neatly and stayed composed in his one‑on‑one with Jasper Schendelaar, putting Sparta 2–1 ahead with his first involvement.
PEC responded by pushing for an equaliser, with Van Hooijdonk making his debut as part of the attacking changes. Their persistence paid off when Kostons found the net ten minutes from time, securing a 2–2 draw and ensuring both sides took a point from the encounter at Het Kasteel.
SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2026
NEC NIJMEGEN 1-3 FEYENOORD
Feyenoord responded well to last weekend’s frustrating draw against ADO, earning a 3–1 victory over NEC in Nijmegen on Saturday afternoon. All four goals came after the break, following a flat and uneventful first half. Despite their mixed performances, Feyenoord now sit third in the table with 11 points from five matches. Remarkably, nine of those points have come away from home, as the Rotterdammers are still waiting for their first win at De Kuip this season.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst had to do without Anis Hadj Moussa, who was left out of the squad for disciplinary reasons after arriving late twice, including to a team meeting. Reports have linked the Algerian winger with interest from Al‑Ittihad, but Van Bronckhorst has made clear that Feyenoord are not planning to sell him at this stage.
Nacho Ferri started up front following Ayase Ueda’s transfer to Lille and the visitors controlled the first half but created only one real chance, when Mika Mármol fired into the side netting after 15 minutes. The match came to life after the interval. Almugera Kabar misjudged a ball in his own half, allowing Gijvai Zechiël to score at the far post from Ferri’s assist, his fourth of the campaign.
NEC hit back almost immediately through Darko Nejasmic, who produced a superb left‑footed strike from outside the box to level the score. Feyenoord regained the lead just after the hour mark when Zechiël exploited the huge gaps in NEC’s defence and set up Luciano Valente for 2–1. Late on, debutant Jerayno Schaken sealed the win, with Zechiël again with the assist, making it 3–1 and securing Feyenoord’s third away victory of the season.
AJAX 1-3 PSV
Ajax will be without Aaron Bouwman for the entire month of September, the club confirmed the day after their 3-1 defeat to PSV. The nineteen‑year‑old defender suffered bruising to his sternum and a bruised lung, from the clattering he received from Ruben van Bommel and remains in hospital for observation. The incident has sparked widespread anger among Ajax supporters.
Van Bommel’s surge into the defender became one of the major talking points after the match. Head of refereeing Raymond van Meenen stated that the PSV winger should have been shown a red card rather than the yellow he received. The injury overshadowed what had been a high‑profile Eredivisie clash.
Ajax entered the match in good spirits after a successful transfer window, although several new signings were not yet ready to start. Jorthy Mokio began in midfield, while PSV welcomed Lutsharel Geertruida into the starting line-up for the first time this season and they struck early. Armando Obispo’s precise pass allowed Ivan Perišić to deliver a superb cross, which Ruben van Bommel headed back for Ricardo Pepi to finish from close range inside five minutes.
The Amsterdammers recovered after a difficult opening spell and created several chances, with Tolu Arokodare proving an effective focal point. His persistence paid off when he scored while off balance during a scramble in the box. Steven Berghuis then had an excellent opportunity to make it 2–1, but PSV regained the lead just before half‑time. A loose ball from a corner fell to Geertruida, who volleyed into the far corner to take the lead into the break.
The second half remained open, with chances for both sides. Julian Brandt fired over, while PSV continued to threaten. Ajax manager Míchel Sánchez introduced Marcos Leonardo, Sofyan Amrabat, Kasper Dolberg and Viktor Tsygankov in search of a breakthrough, but the equaliser never came.
In the 78th minute, the match descended into chaos. Van Bommel went in aggressively during an aerial duel, injuring Bouwman and triggering a scuffle. This force Ajax into a fifth substitution. Thilo Kehrer made his debut, while Abdellah Ouazane had already come on earlier. The incident caused a five‑minute delay, compounded by another confrontation near the benches involving Owen Wijndal and Geertruida.
Ajax were given seven minutes of added time but could not find a way back. Instead, PSV sealed the win through Esmir Bajraktarević, who struck late to make it 3-1 and secure all three points for the Eindhoven side. The bad blood between the sides has only intensified after this match and the Van Bommel incident.
WILLEM II 0-3 EXCELSIOR
Excelsior claimed a convincing victory over Willem II, leaving the Tilburg side still searching for their first league win. For the Rotterdam club, it marked their third victory of the season and they took the lead early on. Irakli Yegoian delivered a precise cross that David Garden tapped in with ease. The Tilburg side nearly equalised moments later when Devin Haen found himself in a good position after strong work from Eric da Silva Moreira, but he failed to convert. After fifteen minutes, Yegoian almost caught goalkeeper Maxime Delanghe off guard, though the Belgian reacted just in time.
Chances remained limited until Rick Meissen doubled the lead from a corner, heading in confidently. Excelsior continued to dominate but couldn’t find a third goal before the break, sending both teams into half time with a 2-0 scoreline.
Willem II pushed forward after the interval in search of a lifeline. Uriel van Aalst came close with a header from a corner in the 57th minute, but his effort drifted just wide. Garden later tried his luck from long range, though his attempt also missed the target.
In the 68th minute, Willem II appealed for a penalty, but both the referee and VAR dismissed the claim. Manchester United loanee Chidozie Obi made his debut late on, yet he was unable to influence the match. In the closing stages, Yegoian struck again to seal the win.
Excelsior’s strong start continues under Ruben den Uil, with three wins from four matches. Willem II, newly promoted this season, remain winless and still waiting for their first victory.
FC UTRECHT A-A GO AHEAD EAGLES
(1-3 at the time of the match stoppage)
The match between FC Utrecht and Go Ahead Eagles was abandoned after just under an hour when fireworks were thrown onto the pitch. Moments earlier, white protest cloths had appeared in the stands. Utrecht were trailing by three goals at the time, and most supporters reacted angrily to the incident. Referee Martin van den Kerkhof halted the match immediately.
Tensions had already been rising throughout the week. Several protest banners had been displayed at Stadion Galgenwaard, with many hardcore supporters directing their frustration at technical director Jordy Zuidam. During the stoppage, analyst Mario Been voiced his disapproval live on ESPN, calling the behaviour “ridiculous” and stressing that it helped the club in no way.
This was not the first fireworks‑related incident of the season. On 23rd August, the SC Cambuur-Feyenoord match had been temporarily stopped after fireworks were thrown from the away section, injuring seven Cambuur supporters.
Go Ahead Eagles took the lead after 18 minutes when Viktor Edvardsen slipped in Mathis Suray, who blasted home from outside the area. Utrecht stopper Vasilis Barkas just looked on in disbelief. Early in the second half, just four minutes after the restart, Søren Tengstedt doubled the advantage with his fourth goal of the season. The Danish winger is in a rich vein of form. He had scored only four goals in 41 league matches for the Eagles prior to this campaign.
Just before the hour mark, Edvardsen got on the scoresheet himself receiving a perfect ball from Tengstedt for his third goal of the campaign. Then the trouble in the stands started. After around fifteen minutes, the match resumed, accompanied by a stern announcement over the stadium speakers.
However, the game was abandoned again shortly after the restart. Dani de Wit had scored to make it 3-1 moments and then cups were thrown onto the pitch just three minutes into play, prompting a second stoppage. With repeated misconduct from the stands, the match was permanently halted after 64 minutes.
Utrecht issued a strong statement condemning the behaviour, calling the evening’s events “terrible” and emphasising that throwing fireworks endangered players, staff, and supporters. General Manager Edo Keuning stressed that such actions had nothing to do with supporting the club and highlighted that thousands of fans had behaved properly. Utrecht will review camera footage to identify those responsible and take appropriate measures. The remainder of the match will be played on Tuesday, 8th September at 14:00, following consultation with the municipality of Utrecht, it has been announced that the match will resume behind closed doors from the exact moment it was suspended.
SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2026
FC GRONINGEN 2-2 FC TWENTE
Groningen and Twente played out a 2–2 draw on Sunday afternoon, with all four goals arriving in a lively first half. Wout Weghorst rescued a point for John van den Brom’s side just before the interval, and after the break the match lost much of its earlier intensity.
The clash at the Euroborg began at a frantic pace as the big man Weghorst missed a big early chance but made amends in the sixth minute, passing to Marko Pjaca, who finished well to give Twente the lead. Groningen hit back quickly with a slice of fortune. Younes Taha squandered a huge one‑on‑one opportunity against Etiënne Vaessen, and from that resulting counter‑attack Thom van Bergen scored his third goal of the season to level the match.
Ten minutes later, Groningen completed the turnaround when Tygo Land struck to make it 2–1. The PSV loanee hit a right footed effort from outside the area, which hit Robin Propper and wrong footed goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall into the goal. But just before half‑time, Twente equalised again. Taha was given far too much space to deliver a cross, and Weghorst finished from close range to bring the score level.
The second half produced a handful of half‑chances but never matched the excitement of the opening 45 minutes. Weghorst came close to converting a fine cross from Bart van Rooij and briefly clashed with Vaessen after a dangerous moment in the box. Groningen nearly snatched a winner when a deflected effort from Tika de Jonge almost looped into the net. The draw leaves both Groningen and Twente on seven points, though Twente have played one match fewer.
SC TELSTAR 2-2 SC CAMBUUR
Wonderful scenes unfolded at Velsen‑Zuid on Sunday.
While trailing 2-0, Telstar were awarded a penalty, and just as on the final day of last season, goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr. stepped forward. With the crowd chanting for their cult hero, Koeman calmly placed the ball and slotted it low into the corner.
Koeman Jr. had already proven his nerve from the spot last year, scoring the decisive penalty away at FC Volendam that kept Telstar in the Eredivisie. On Sunday, the supporters immediately called for him again, and “the specialist,” as ESPN commentator Martijn van Zijtveld dubbed him, did not disappoint. He beat Thijs Janssen with ease, remaining ice‑cold despite the growing legend around him.
What followed next was historic.
Koeman Jr. converted not one but two penalties, becoming the first goalkeeper ever to score twice in a single Dutch top‑flight match. His goals dragged Telstar back from a seemingly hopeless position and earned The White Lions a dramatic late point.
Telstar had been reduced to ten men in the 22nd minute when Nokkvi Thorisson was shown a straight red card by referee Joey Kooij, for high challenge on Cambuur defender Billy van Duijl. However, Telstar didn’t find an opening until the 53th minute, when Rafik El Arguioui notched his fourth goal of the season. Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Nicolas Binder shot straight inside the left post.
Then two spot‑kicks changed everything. Just three minutes after Cambuur went 2-0 up, Koeman buried the first, after Van Duijl condeded a penalty. Kooij, who had awarded four penalties last week in the PEC Zwolle-NEC game, gave Telstar a spot kick in the 90th minute but VAR reversed the decision. Then ten minutes into stoppage time, Mathieu Maertens was deemed to handball in the area and Kooij pointed to the spot again. The crowd popped as Koeman jogged up the field to step up again in the 101st minute under immense pressure. With Telstar desperate for an equaliser, he kept his composure and scored, completing an extraordinary night.
After the match, Koeman Jr. spoke with ESPN: “I’m at the top of the list, you saw that,” he said. “I can take a good penalty and I have confidence, so no doubt.” He admitted he took a moment before the second kick as Cambuur players tried to unsettle him. “They start talking to you, but you won’t get me worked up. Just take a moment for yourself and focus.”
There was even a moment of confusion before VAR intervened, with Telstar initially thinking they might receive a free kick instead of a second penalty. Koeman laughed: “I thought maybe I’d take the free kick too. But everyone already said it was on target.”. He placed both penalties in the same corner. “Maybe I should change that,” he joked. “But if it’s hard, they can’t reach it.”
SC HEERENVEEN 2-3 AZ ALKMAAR
Leeroy Echteld’s substitutions proved decisive as AZ defeated Heerenveen on Sunday afternoon. Ayoub Oufkir, brought on in the 82nd minute, needed barely half a minute to score the winning goal. Earlier, Mexx Meerdink had already produced a stunning equaliser.
The first half at the Abe Lenstra Stadium was lively and evenly matched. Ro‑Zangelo Daal put AZ ahead in just the seventh minute, but Heerenveen responded impressively. Nolhan Courtens levelled the score, and Ringo Meerveld completed the turnaround half an hour in, giving Robin Veldman’s side a 2–1 lead at the break.
AZ had to wait until the 69th minute to find an equaliser — and it was worth the wait. Debutant Valdemar Byskov slipped the ball to Meerdink, who curled a superb left‑footed strike into the far corner to make it 2–2. The visitors then struck again in dramatic fashion. Echteld introduced Oufkir in the 82nd minute, and seconds later Meerdink released him through on goal. One‑on‑one with Bernt Klaverboer, Oufkir stayed ice‑cold and slotted home.
Heerenveen pushed hard in the dying moments and created two big chances, but AZ goalkeeper Jari de Busser survived both scares. With the win, AZ have now won five in five, move to 15 points and leapfrogged PSV back into first place, while Heerenveen remain on five points.
ADO DEN HAAG 2-3 FORTUNA SITTARD
The surprise package so far, Fortuna Sittard, claimed another victory in the final game of the weekend in Den Haag. Fortuna built on a comfortable lead before half‑time and extending it again after the break. Mohamed Ihattaren was the star of the match, producing two goals and an assist as Fortuna controlled the decisive moments.
ADO saw plenty of the ball early on but struggled to create any real danger. Fortuna stayed compact and struck after just under half an hour, when Ihattaren’s shot took a deflection and wrong‑footed goalkeeper Kilian Nikiema for 1-0. Five minutes later, Ihattaren delivered a perfect cross that Lequincio Zeefuik headed in, doubling the lead and putting Fortuna firmly in control.
Forced to chase the game after the interval, ADO finally found a breakthrough in the 59th minute. Evan Rottier’s sharp move ended with Yannick Eduardo, who finished to claw a goal back, but ADO’s hope was short‑lived. Ihattaren soon cut inside into space and unleashed a powerful strike that Nikiema could not stop, restoring Fortuna’s two‑goal cushion.
ADO pushed hard in the closing stages and came close when Illaijh de Ruijter’s shot struck the post after a swift counter‑attack. Moments later, they did pull one back: Jesse Bal met a cross with a well‑placed header, reducing the deficit to 2–3 and briefly reigniting belief in a late comeback. Despite ADO’s pressure, Fortuna held their ground in the final minutes. The equaliser never arrived, and the Limburgers left The Hague with all three points.
