Tag Archives: Roda

Week 32 Eredivisie Weekend Wrap-up: Ajax virtually crowned

April 14, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

League leaders Ajax defeated ADO Den Haag 3-2 to move within one point of clinching the Eredivisie title. Feyenoord are the only side that can mathematically catch the Amsterdammers, however it looks high unlikely as the Rotterdam side will have to hope the defending champions lose their last two games and that they can make up a nine-goal deficit on the way.

Saturday 12th April 2014

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda JC will finish in the bottom three after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at FC Twente left them eight points adrift of safety with two games to go. The rock-bottom Roda will either be automatically relegated or have to compete for this Eredivisie survival in the relegation play-off. Young Norwegian striker Torgeir Børven scored twice in the opening 26 minutes to virtually cement all three points to Michel Jansen’s side, as former Arsenal youth player Kyle Ebecilio made sure in the second-half.

Seven goals were exchanged in a topsy-turvy contest as SC Cambuur defeated Vitesse 4-3 to ruin Peter Bosz’s men’s chances of an automatic Europa League spot. Full-back Kelvin Leerdam struck first for Vitesse before scoring past his own goalkeeper following Martijn Barto’s equaliser. Although, it was level at half-time as Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu restored parity. Chelsea team-mate Bertrand Traoré put the visitors back in front 11 minutes into the second half but Bartholomew Ogbeche and Barto scored within five minutes of one another to send the Cambuurstadion into raptures.

Go Ahead Eagles need one more point to mathematically secure their Eredivisie status as lost 2-0 to Heerenveen at De Adelaarshorst. Impressive young left-back Joost van Aken nodded Marco van Basten’s side in front in only his second full start for the club. On 76 minutes, Alfred Finnbogason scored Heerenveen’s second after some good work from Bilal Basacikoglu on the right-wing. The goal was the Icelander’s 27th of the Eredivisie campaign.

Sunday 13th April 2014

Frank de Boer’s Ajax defeated Henk Fraser’s ADO Den Haag in a five goal thriller, however, Feyenoord’s 2-0 victory over PSV ensured that Koeman’s men remain six points behind in second place with two rounds of games remaining. If Ajax can clinch at least a point away to Heracles Almelo in a fortnight, they will clinch their fourth successive Eredivisie championship.

Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen gave the league leaders the lead on 35 minutes, although within a minute ADO drew level via Stefano Denswil scoring in his own net to send the sides in at half-time all square.

Second-half goals from Davy Klaassen and Thulani Serero put Ajax 3-1 up with central defender Tom Beugelsdijk scoring a last-minute goal to cut the deficit for ADO. However, it was too late to make an impact when referee Richard Liesveld blew for full-time just moments later

Along with their slim title hopes, Feyenoord maintain their second place with the consolation prize of Champions League qualification well within their grasps. Goals from defensive duo Joris Mathijsen and Daryl Janmaat gave them the win over PSV Eindhoven, who have now suffered three consecutive defeats since Philip Cocu was called out of action after a back operation.

NEC Nijmegen are set to compete relegation play-off in a month’s time although they held AZ Alkmaar to an impressive 1-1 draw that leaves them five points from safety. Dick Advocaat’s side took a second half lead through Nemanja Gudelj’s penalty on 55 minutes but NEC midfielder Kevin Conboy netted three minutes from time to secure a valuable point.

Fellow relegation contenders RKC Waalwijk played out a 1-1 draw with PEC Zwolle and now are three points off safety. RKC striker Daniel De Ridder scored just before the hour mark, but his goal was cancelled out by PEC’s Mateusz Klich just nine minutes later.

FC Utrecht will play Eredivisie football next season after they eased their relegation worries thanks to first-half goals from Jacob Mulenga and Juan Agudelo that earned Jan Wouters’ side a 2-1 victory over Heracles. The visitors saw Mikhail Rosheuvel hit back on 64 minutes and defender Bart Schenkeveld was dismissed with five minutes remaining to halt any ideas of a draw for the Almelo side.

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EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE REPORT

Week 31 Eredivisie Weekend Wrap-up: Ajax leave champagne on ice

April 6, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

League leaders Ajax are yet to clinch the Eredivisie title as they were held 1-1 by Vitesse at the Gelredome on Sunday. Elsewhere, Feyenoord maintained second place and Twente in third as PSV were defeated 3-0 by Heerenveen on Saturday night.

Saturday 5th April 2014

PSV, minus head coach Philip Cocu, fell to heavy 3-0 defeat on Saturday evening to Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen. Ernest Faber, deputising for Cocu, has now lead the Eindhoven side to two defeats in two and their aspirations of Champions League football next season have been dashed. Balil Basacikoglu netted on the half-hour mark but second half goals from Rajiv van la Parra and Alfred Finnbogason has now stuck PSV down into fifth place but are five points ahead of Heerenveen who sit a place behind them.

Twente stay in third after winning 2-0 away to NAC Breda thanks to goals from Felipe Gutiérrez and Dušan Tadić. Dropping down to fifteenth in the standings, Breda are now only four points away from the drop zone.

Go Ahead Eagles steered themselves out of relegation trouble with a 2-1 away win at Heracles. Mikhail Rosheuvel, a threat throughout and put the hosts into a first-half lead but the Eagles turned the game on its head after the interval. Midfielders Deniz Türüç and Erik Falkenburg scored the goals to move Go Ahead up to 11th place even though Jarchinio Antonia was dismissed two minutes before time.

NEC Nijmegen stay second bottom and six points from safety after being held 1-1 by manager-less SC Cambuur in a game that saw three sending-offs in four minutes. Geoffrey Castillion gave NEC the lead but Mart Dijkstra equalised just after half-time. NEC captain was sent off six minutes from time and the sides were evened up when Marcel Ritzmaier was given his second yellow minutes later. However, the relegation strugglers were reduced to nine with just two minutes remaining when Rens van Eijden received his second booking.

Sunday 6th April 2014

Frank de Boer’s Ajax came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Vitesse, however, being six points clear of Feyenoord in second, remained on track to win their fourth consecutive Eredivisie championship. The Amsterdammers fell mid-way through the first-half when Chelsea loanee Bertrand Traoré netted. Icelandic international forward Kolbeinn Sigthórsson equalized two minutes after the break to earn his side the point.

Sunday also saw the return of Italian striker Graziano Pelle to the Feyenoord side after a four-game suspension and he notched both goals in his side’s 2-0 with over RKC Waalwijk. Ronald Koeman’s men travel to PSV next weekend but look most likely to claim the second Champions League spot.

ADO Den Haag are still undefeated under Henk Fraser after smashing ten-men FC Utrecht by four goals to one. Ronald Alberg and Mike van Duinen sent Utrecht in at half-time two goals down, and Mitchell Schet and Michiel Kramer added to the tally in the second half. Utrecht saw striker Steve de Ridder dismissed after just 24 minutes for two bookings and Jens Toornstra grabbed a last minute consolation goal.

In the final game of the weekend, basement boys Roda JC held AZ Alkmaar to a 2-2 draw that yet another red card. Berry Powel put Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men ahead but AZ midfielder Markus Henriksen equalised before half-time. American striker Aron Johansson notched before the hour mark to give the visitors the lead but Guus Hupperts snatched the leveller twenty minutes from time. With just below ten minutes remaining, Guy Ramos saw red for his second bookable offence. Roda look doomed and are eight points away from safety, results next weekend could see them confirmed to the relegation play off places.

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EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE REPORT

Week 30 Eredivisie Report: Ajax close in on another championship

March 30, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Once again it seems Ajax’s will be lifting the Eredivisie title soon after handing FC Twente a 3-0 defeat today to put Frank de Boer’s side eight points clear at the top with just three games to go.

Sunday 30th March 2014

FEYENOORD 5-0 GO AHEAD EAGLES

Even without top scorer Graziano Pellè, Feyenoord managed to hit five past Go Ahead Eagles to move themselves into pole position for the Champions League qualification slot.

Lex Immers got the scoring underway with an excellent powerful low drive from his right foot that beat Go Ahead keeper Stephan Andersen at his near post. The 45,000 inside De Kuip were as loud as usual and push their team on.

However, the visitors should have been level on 20 minutes when a Jop van der Linden free-kick had the beating of Feyenoord stopper Erwin Mulder, but unfortunately for the Eagles defender the post kept the ball out.

Feyenoord search for the second goal but they had to wait until 49 minutes. Ruben Schaken crossed in from the right wing and Tony Vilhena leaped above everyone to head past Andersen to double the lead.

It was three in the 64 minute with Jean-Paul Boëtius scoring his ninth of the season. Attacking on the right-wing again, Schaken and Immers linked up well for the latter to put the ball on the plate for Boëtius to tap home. De Kuip erupted knowing that their side had cemented the victory.

Ronald Koeman’s side were not finished and Daryl Janmaat played in young striker Mitchell Te Verde on 77 minutes for the fourth, and finally Ruud Vormer split the Eagles defence with a ball through to Miquel Nelom two minutes from time and the substitute blasted the ball past Andersen to make it five.

This was the biggest win of the season for the Rotterdam side who are now in pole position for Champions League football next term, with a game in hand on the chasing pack. That game in hand will take place in Almelo on Wednesday against Heracles.

Go Ahead look in trouble and are only one point off the drop zone, they will look to Wednesday’s home game against NAC Breda to give them some breathing space off the others in the relegation fight.

TEAMS

FEYENOORD: Mulder, Janmaat, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Kongolo, Clasie, Immers, Vilhena, Boëtius, Te Vrede, Schaken.

SUBS NOT USED: Lamprou, Van Beek, Vormer, Nelom, Verhoek, Armenteros, Bakkal.

GOALS: Immers 13, Vilhena 49, Boëtius 64, Te Verde 77, Nelom 89.

BOOKINGS: Kongolo 51.

GO AHEAD: Andersen, Amevor, Vriends, Van der Linden, Schenk, Overgoor, Türüç, Rijsdijk, Antonia, Houtkoop, Falkenburg.

SUBS NOT USED: Ter Mate, Ten Den, Kolder, Azevedo, Haps, Pot, Lambooij.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Türüç 21.

AJAX 3-0 FC TWENTE

Frank de Boer’s Ajax close in on their fourth successive Eredivisie title and now sit eight points clear of nearest rivals Feyenoord.

Twente should have taken the lead after a quarter of an hour after some great work from Felipe Gutiérrez. The Chilean playmaker surged down the right wing and slipped past Stefano Denswil with ease, and as Luc Castaignos was waiting at the back post for a tap in, the ball to him was not good enough and played in behind him. The majority of the 51,117 inside the Amsterdam Arena breathed a sigh of relief.

After Andreas Bjelland fouled Thulani Serero just before the half hour mark, referee Pieter Vink awarded Ajax a free-kick on the right wing which lead to opening goal. Dane Lasse Schöne whipped in the ball to an unmarked Stefano Denswil to nod the ball towards the goal out of Nick Marsman’s reach.

Twente pressed for the equaliser and look likely to score every time they went forward and they should have been level before the interval. The always lively Quincy Promes spotted a lovely run into the area by Youness Mokhtar. When the midfielder received the ball, the angle was too tight and his effort bounced off the foot of the post. Minutes later, Castaignos overpowered Denswil and was one-on-one with Jasper Cillessen, but the striker blared his shot off the crossbar from close range.

As the second half began, Twente pressed forward looking for that equalising goal but it was Ajax that found the net before the hour mark. Bojan Krkic, on loan from Barcelona, has had a poor season but he had a cracking second half for the Amsterdammers and spied a great run down the right from Ajax full-back Ricardo van Rhijn. The defender collected the ball and laid in Lasse Schöne in the middle to tap home with ease.

Seven minutes later, the Spaniard Bojan Krkic clinched the win for Ajax with an excellent goal. With Twente on the back foot, trying to find that defensive cover whilst still attacking got it all wrong as the ball came out to Davy Klaassen on the right wing. Klaassen played the ball into Bojan just outside the area, and rather than look for another pass, the young striker blasted a shot past Marsman to make it three.

All in all a great day for Ajax and this win felt like a win from the champions, and after the last few disappointing performances, Frank de Boer will sleep much better this evening. The Amsterdammers are now eight points ahead and have a game in hand on most of their rivals with just four rounds to go. That game in hand will be played on Wednesday night away to relegation contenders RKC Waalwijk.

TEAMS

AJAX: Cillessen, Van Rhijn, Denswil, Veltman, Boilesen (Poulsen 70), Blind, Klaassen, Serero, Bojan (Duarte 79), Schöne, Kishna (Sigthórsson 62).

SUBS NOT USED: Vermeer, Van der Hoorn, De Sa, Riedewald.

GOALS: Denswil 29, Schöne 58, Bojan 65.

BOOKINGS: None.

TWENTE: Marsman, Bjelland, Schilder, Bengtsson, Martina, Ebecilio, Tadić, Gutiérrez (Brama 71), Mokhtar, Promes (Corona 81), Castaignos (Børven 70).

SUBS NOT USED: Stevens, Breukers, Eghan, Röseler.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: None.

SC CAMBUUR 0-0 AZ ALKMAAR

The resilient Cambuur kept the free-scoring AZ Alkmaar at bay to share the points in a goal-less draw.

AZ missed the chance to leapfrog Heerenveen into sixth but it was the home side should have taken the lead after just five minutes when Elvis Manu hit the side netting with a glorious opportunity.

Dick Advocaat’s side were unlucky not to leave Leeuwarden with the win after Denni Avdic, replacing Aron Johansson in the starting line-up, had a goal ruled out by match official Ed Janssen with twenty minutes to go. AZ were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Donny Gorter lashed a shot into the wall and the ball fell perfectly to Victor Elm who hit a half-volley at goal.

Cambuur goalkeeper Leonard Nienhuis stopped the effort but failed to smother the ball. Central defender Nick Viergever attacked the ball which ricocheted off Nienhuis into the path of Avdic who tapped home the rebound. The referee deemed that Avdic was offside when Elm had took his shot and much to AZ’s chagrin, video replays showed that may have been the case, but it was certainly a close decision. AZ coach Advocaat when ballistic on the touchline protesting furiously with the fourth official.

The sharing of points saw Cambuur stay in 11th well clear of the relegation places and AZ stay in seventh inside the Europa League playoffs.

TEAMS

CAMBUUR: Nienhuis, Droeste, Van der Laan, Bijker, Leeuwin, Van Moorsel (Ogbeche 62), El Makrini, Ritzmaier, Barto (Hemmen 62), Lukoki (Bakker 79), Manu.

SUBS NOT USED: Zeinstra, Pereira, Dijkstra, Schepers.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Lukoki 76.

AZ: Esteban, Johansson, Viergever, Poulsen, Gouweleeuw, Gudelj, Elm, Ortiz, Berghuis (Gorter 53), Beerens (Gudmundsson 26), Avdic (Jóhannsson 83).

SUBS NOT USED: De Winter, Reijnen, Henriksen, Wuytens.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Johansson 32, Gouweleeuw 51.

RODA JC 0-1 RKC WAALWIJK

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda are staring the Eerste Divisie straight in the face now falling to 1-0 defeat to fellow relegation contenders RKC Waalwijk.

The only goal of the game came midway through the first half with Romeo Castelen scoring his sixth of the campaign. After receiving the ball inside the area, Castelen faked a shot that made Ard van Peppen slip and turn his back on the ball and the striker drove the ball home past Filip Kurto.

Tomasson’s Roda had their chances to score the equaliser but Berry Powel smashed a great effort on the post and RKC stand-in keeper Arjen van Dijk was in good form saving from Gus Ramos and Guus Hupperts.

As time ticked on, the Roda crowd got restless and just past the hour mark the hosts should have been awarded a penalty by referee Bjorn Kuipers. A corner was whipped in and Prince-Désir Gouano literally rugby tackled striker Krisztián Nemeth down to the ground. The referee and his assistants missed the incident and the French defender got away with it.

RKC keeper Van Dijk was worked for the remainder of the game but Roda could not get the ball past him and it was a poor result for the home side. Roda now sit sixth points adrift from safety and their best chance of survival will surely be trying to move out of the bottom position and into the relegation playoffs.

TEAMS

RODA: Kurto, Ramos, Van Peppen, Letschert, Dijkhuizen (Paulissen 81), Fledderus, Donald (Németh 63), Kali, Sutchuin (Bonevacia 74), Hupperts, Powel.

SUBS NOT USED: Prus, Luijckx, Monteyne, Höcher.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Donald 57, Dijkhuizen 67.

RKC: Van Dijk, Van Hoevelen, Amieux, Gouano, Apau, Jungschläger, Braber (De Ridder 46), Anderson, Sno, Castelen (Van Mosselveld 85), Beauguel (Joachim 70).

SUBS NOT USED: Šeda, Ivens, Schet, Lamey.

GOALS: Castelen 22.

BOOKINGS: Beauguel 27, Apau 45.

ADO DEN HAAG 1-1 PEC ZWOLLE

In the final game of the weekend, ADO Den Haag and PEC Zwolle played a draw which saw ADO remain undefeated under Henk Fraser but by no means out of relegation trouble yet.

Zwolle arrived in Den Haag buzzing with confidence after reaching the KNVB Beker final in midweek, took the lead after twenty minutes through defender Maikel van der Werff. Stef Nijland whipped in a corner towards the back post and ADO goalkeeper Gino Coutinho misjudged it, flapped, collide into team-mate Gianni Zuiverloon and Van der Werff headed the ball into the empty goal.

The hosts should been level before half-time if it were not for the heroics of Zwolle keeper Kevin Begois. Tom Beugelsdijk met Jerson Cabral’s cross with his head on 40 minutes but the Belgian goalkeeper, diving the opposite way, stuck a leg out to clear it off the line.

Fraser’s side did tie the scoring with a Ronald Alberg wonder goal two minutes later. The midfielder lashed a half-volley inside Begois right-hand post from around 30 yards.

Zwolle should have gained all three points in the dying moments of the game when substitute Fred Benson was given an golden opportunity after Kamehelo Mokotjo had played the striker through on goal. With only the Coutinho to beat, the striker side footed his effort wide of the post much to the delight of the home crowd.

ADO are still just three points off the drop zone and with just four games to go, they will need some more points to feel safe. PEC Zwolle stay in ninth place and with their KNVB Beker final appearance, European football beckons next season if or when Ajax finally clinch the championship.

TEAMS

ADO: Coutinho, Wormgoor, Beugelsdijk, Meijers, Zuiverloon, Holla, Gehrt (Kramer 74), Bakker, Van Duinen, Schet (Wildschut 30), Alberg.

SUBS NOT USED: Zwinkels, Kanon, Buwalda, Van Haaren, Cabral.

GOALS: Alberg 42.

BOOKINGS: Beugelsdijk 56, Van Duinen 74, Wormgoor 76.

ZWOLLE: Begois (Ter Wielen 46), Lachman, Van der Werff, Van Hintum, Gravenbeek, Nijland (Benson 84), Drost, Mokotjo, Saymak, Narsingh (Karagounis 57), Fernandez.

SUBS NOT USED: Pereria, Klich, Hiwat, Mahmudov.

GOALS: Van der Werff 20.

BOOKINGS: Saymak 47, Nijland 50.

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 24 – SATURDAY’S PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

February 15, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Will Burns is back with his picks for the Eredivisie in today’s games and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Saturday 15th February

TWENTE vs. VITESSE – 17:45

Second play fourth as Vitesse visit FC Twente in the game of the week early Saturday evening.

With stars like Dušan Tadić, Quincy Promes and Luc Castaignos on one side and Lucas Piazón, Christian Atsu and Davy Pröpper on the other – both sides have quality to take the three points and I see this one being a close affair.

This is a game that could either way so for our best bet we opt for Under 2.5 Goals. In their last four games, there have been under 2.5 goals scored in Vitesse’s matches. Past history also shows that Twente have seen under 2.5 goals in five of their last six matches in all competitions against Vitesse.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Under 2.5 Goals (6/4 – Betfair) – Click here to bet on this market.

RKC WAALWIJK vs. NEC NIJMEGEN – 18:45

RKC face NEC in a vital relegation six-pointer and for teams down at the wrong end of the league, they have not had a bad run as of late. RKC only losing one game in their last six, with NEC losing two.

NEC’s real problem is their away form, the Nijmegen side have failed to find a win in the last 16 attempts. RKC are set to win their third successive game at the Mandemakers Stadion and stretch their home unbeaten run to eight games.

BURNS’ BEST BET: RKC to win (13/10 – BetVictor) – Click here to bet on this market.

RODA JC vs. ADO DEN HAAG – 18:45

In another relegation battle, Henk Fräser’s ADO travel to face Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda JC. The problem with both of these sides has been finding goals.

Away from home, ADO have failed to find the net in five of their last seven away trips and Roda have only score three times in their last five Eredivisie games.

ADO will struggle to replace the suspended Tom Beugelsdijk who has been the diamond in the rough at Den Haag these season. Will the weakened defence be able to control Guus Hupperts for Roda – I predict that they won’t but Roda to win with by scoring just one or two goals.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Under 2.5 Goals (13/10 – BetVictor) – Click here to bet on this market.

AZ ALKMAAR vs. FC UTRECHT – 19:45

The under-pressure Jan Wouters is in desperate need of stopping an horrific run of no wins in seven including six defeats.

Will they stop this rot today? I predict no and that things are going to get worse for Utrecht fans. A trip to AZ is no easy task, and with up to eight first teamers injured for Wouters, I cannot see any side he picks this evening getting a result.

Best bet would be to take AZ to win at half-time and full-time and I can see Alkmaar dominating throughout.

BURNS’ BEST BET: AZ Alkmaar HT/FT (23/20 – BoyleSports)

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 23 PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

February 8, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

In the midweek games, our top tipster Will Burns hit a four bets out of nine at massive prices to make a huge profit (13/8, 13/5, 11/4 and 19/10) and last night hit ANOTHER one at 6/5. He is back with his picks for the Eredivisie this coming weekend and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Saturday 8th February

PSV vs. FC TWENTE – 17:45

With both sides coming into this one on the back of good wins, it sure proves to a be a great game when second-placed Twente travel to the Phillips Stadion to face PSV on Saturday evening.

The installation of Guus Hiddink as Phillip Cocu’s advisor will only help the Eindhoven’s patchy season so far but Twente are in great form and are desperate to close the gap between themselves and Ajax. A win for Twente in this would sit them only a point off the top.

I believe a feel good factor could be back in Eindhoven for this one but Twente could be too strong for Cocu’s men. The best bet would be to sit on the fence and settle for a draw.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (5/2 – BetVictor)

NAC BREDA vs. RODA JC – 18:45

It’s a relegation battle in Breda. NAC missed the chance to pick up three vital points in Nijmegen on Wednesday night and with just two wins from their last nine matches, they now find themselves just four points above the relegation zone.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s Roda find themselves in the drop zone but only due to a poor goal-difference. In the past five trips, two draws and three defeats does not fill you full of confidence when away from home but they do have a young prodigy on their hands who could fire them up the league.

Of course, I am talking about Guus Hupperts. He is the main reason I’m betting that Roda could grab the win.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Roda to win (28/11 – Unibet)

GO AHEAD EAGLES vs. AZ ALKMAAR – 18:45

Dick Advocaat lead AZ to back-to-back wins last week, hosting Groningen and at Vitesse which gives them three wins from their first four games of the new year has revitalised their season.

The Eagles are yet to win in 2014 but have good form, one losing once in the last five games at Adelaarshorst but I see AZ’s firepower of Aron Johansson, 13 goals in 23 games being too strong for Go Ahead. Take AZ to win at 11/10.

BURNS’ BEST BET: AZ to win (11/10 – BetVictor & WilliamHill)

FEYENOORD vs. NEC NIJMEGEN– 19:45

Feyenoord had a great 2-1 away win to Roda midweek with Lex Immers and Samuel Armenteros getting involved in the goals, with Ronald Koeman not relying on Graziano Pellè notching.

NEC are undefeated in 2014 with two wins and three draws but four of those games have been played at home, the only away game was a tremendous 1-1 draw in Arnhem against Vitesse.

Could NEC gain another draw on Saturday night? Possibly… To play it safe I am going to say there are going to be goals in this one and plenty of them. Get on Over 4.5 Goals at Coral at 2/1 for the best bet of the day.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Over 4.5 Goals (2/1 – Coral)

Sunday 9th February

HERACLES vs. SC CAMBUUR– 11:30

Sunday’s set of games opens with Cambuur’s visit to Heracles. The hosts smashed ADO 3-0 on Tuesday so they will be full of confidence. Cambuur held their own against PSV even though they let a 1-0 lead slip to be defeated by Cocu’s men.

On the road, Cambuur’s form is not great, losing six out of the last seven away league matches. Heracles have been in decent form at home (losing only one in five) due to the in-form Bryan Linssen firing off all cylinders, scoring six in six.

The best bet will be Heracles to be winning at half-time and continuing on to defeat Cambuur at the final whistle.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Heracles HT/FT (3/2 – Ladbrokes)

PEC ZWOLLE vs. AJAX– 13:30

The resurgent PEC Zwolle go in search of a fourth straight win when they host league leader Ajax on Sunday.

Ron Jans’ men began the season in great form, winning their first four games and led the league for almost a month but a run of just one league win in 15 put pay to any title aspirations. Ajax started poorly for have clawed back and now top the league with a four point lead.

I predict this to be the game of the week and a real test for Ajax, with the game ending in a score draw.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/10 – Bet Victor)

RKC WAALWIJK vs. FC UTRECHT– 13:30

Even though Jan Wouter’s Utrecht have won six of their last seven matches against Waalwijk in all competitions, they have lost six of their last seven away matches in league. Utrecht are truly in horrible form at the moment even though they clinched a great point at home to Ajax last weekend.

Erwin Koeman’s RKC had a great week last week, defeating PSV on Sunday and drawing away to Go Ahead on Wednesday and need more points on the board to improve their position.

Utrecht also need points to and since loan signing Juan Agudelo has arrived from Stoke, he has started in back-to-back games alongside Steven de Ridder up front. Agudelo and De Ridder have impressed and I feel they could be the two help Wouters clinch a win.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Utrecht to win (12/5 – Coral)

FC GRONINGEN vs. HEERENVEEN – 15:30

The final game of the weekend sees Marco van Basten take his Heerenveen side to Groningen. Both teams will be looking to bounce back after midweek defeats as Groningen lost narrowly away to Ajax and Heerenveen at home against FC Twente.

Groningen were incredibly unlucky against Ajax on Thursday with a late goal snatching a great point away from their grasp. With Hakim Ziyech and Alfred Finnbogason, Heerenveen are always dangerous but I feel Groningen could win this game especially if Filip Kostic can put in a performance like he did against Ajax. BetVictor are offering 6/5 for the home win and I see this as the best bet.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Groningen to win (6/5 – BetVictor)

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BETTING TIPS, EREDIVISIE, EREDIVISIE PREVIEW

EREDIVISIE WEEK 22 PREVIEW & BETTING TIPS

February 4, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

After nailing four out of nine games at the weekend, Will Burns is back with his picks for the midweek Eredivisie extravaganza (all nine games) and like all his tips, you will not see a ‘best bet’ under evens – good luck!

Tuesday 4th February

RODA JC vs. FEYENOORD – 17:45

Roda’s last game at Parkstad Limburg Stadion was Jon Dahl Tomasson’s first win as head coach in a 1-0 win over Utrecht. After losing 3-1 at PEC Zwolle on Saturday, they face the tough test of Ronald Koeman’s Feyenoord tomorrow night.

Feyenoord featured in Friday night’s game which was a 1-1 draw against Vitesse that leaves the Koeman’s men seven points off league leaders Ajax. The title race is not out of reach yet and they will look to Italian striker Graziano Pelle to add to his tally of 16 in 19 games this campaign.

I can see Feyenoord being too strong for Roda and at 13/8 at Betfair for the Rotterdam side to be winning at half-time and full-time, it’s too big of a bet to miss.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Feyenoord HT/FT (13/8 – Betfair)

ADO DEN HAAG vs. HERACLES – 18:45

Both sides experienced defeats over the weekend: Heracles at home to NAC Breda and ADO at Heerenveen, with a five points separating them in the league table.

I see this being a close game even though both sides will be itching to get back on track, I see this match finishing as a score draw. For the best bet, take a look at BetVictor’s at 13/5 for this one.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/5 – BetVictor)

VITESSE vs. AZ ALKMAAR – 19:45

Tuesday’s main event will be second place Vitesse hosting sixth placed AZ Alkmaar. AZ have proved to be a bit of a jinx for the Arnhem side over the years, with Vitesse failing to find a win in the last eight meetings between the two sides.

Peter Bosz’s side will look to change all that this time round and place a bit of pressure on Ajax, currently two points clear them. A win would take Vitesse ahead of the Amsterdam side, with Ajax yet to play at home to Groningen on Thursday.

AZ will certainly not lay down for Vitesse and it will be a tough test for Bosz’s men. However, AZ has been a little inconsistent with two wins and three defeats from their last five matches played. Look for Vitesse to win this one and let’s take them to win by two clear goals to give us a bit of value.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Vitesse -1 (29/20 – SkyBet)

Wednesday 5th February

SC CAMBUUR vs. PSV – 17:45

After a shocking display at Waalwijk, a 2-0 defeat on Sunday, Philip Cocu needs to pick his side up for the trip to Cambuur on Wednesday evening. With only one win on the road in the last nine games, Cocu has a tough job.

Cambuur on the other hand put in a good showing away to Twente earlier on Sunday, despite running out on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline.

PSV are struggling to score goals and as we won on ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ in the RKC game on Sunday, let’s go for it again at 11/10 at Sky Bet. There has been under 2.5 goals in the last four games involving PSV so let’s see if that run will continue.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Under 2.5 Goals (11/10 – SkyBet)

GO AHEAD EAGLES vs. RKC WAALWIJK – 18:45

The impressive Evander Sno hit both goals in RKC’s win over PSV on Sunday and the Waalwijk side will look to build on that victory away to Go Ahead Eagles on Wednesday evening. However, Erwin Koeman’s side has a horrible away record with only two wins in the last 21 trips.

Go Ahead on the other hand has faired well at home this season with only two defeats in ten, and those losses were against the current top two, Vitesse and Ajax. A win for RKC is not unthinkable but I cannot see it happening.

Although the draw on the other hand could, with six draws for the Eagles and seven for RKC already this season I can see them adding to this tally on Wednesday.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (13/5 – Betfred, SkyBet and Bet365)

NEC NIJMEGEN vs. NAC BREDA – 18:45

It is a close league this season with just five points splitting NEC (17th) and NAC (10th). NEC have a great home record this campaign with only losing two out of nine games (to Vitesse and Ajax) since the sacking of Alex Pastoor in September.

In an interesting stat, NEC Nijmegen have not beaten NAC in the last seven meetings between the sides in all competitions so going with the stats, I feel the best bet is a draw.

BURNS’ BEST BET: Draw (11/4 – WilliamHill)

HEERENVEEN vs. FC TWENTE – 19:45

FC Twente are in tremendous form and have only experienced a defeat twice in the Eredivisie this season, both away games to ADO Den Haag and Vitesse.

Heerenveen striker Alfred Finnbogason is also in tremendous form notching an amazing 20 goals in 18 games, which persuade Fulham to offer €10m on transfer deadline day.

With the Icelandic international notching left, right and centre I am unsure that Twente can defeat Heerenveen, but what I can predict is goals!

BURNS’ BEST BET: Over 3.5 Goals (13/5 – BetVictor)

Thursday 6th February

FC UTRECHT vs. PEC ZWOLLE – 17:45

Thursday sees PEC Zwolle travel to a struggling FC Utrecht full of confidence after Sunday’s 3-1 over Roda. While Jan Wouters’s Utrecht halted a run of four successive league defeats with a hard-fought point at home to Ajax, but they still remain five games without a win.

Zwolle look to clinch their third consecutive victory on Thursday but with the tricky Ryan Thomas providing balls for Guyon Fernandez and Mustafa Saymak, I think they could do it this Thursday at the Stadion Galgenwaard.

BURNS’ BEST BET: PEC Zwolle to win (19/10 – Unibet)

AJAX vs. FC GRONINGEN – 19:45

The final game of the Week 22 fixtures sees league leaders Ajax take on the underperforming FC Groningen.

The defending champions have won nine of their last eleven games and kept six clean sheets in their last seven at the Amsterdam ArenA. Do not look past an Ajax win if you are placing an accumulator this week, as I cannot see any other result coming close in this one.

Groningen lost away to AZ by two goals to nil on Saturday and I can see Ajax going one better winning the match 3-0. So let’s end the week with a huge 7/1 tip and good luck!

BURNS’ BEST BET: Ajax to win 3-0 (7/1 – Bet365)

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EREDIVISIE

Week 19 Eredivisie Report – Ajax & Vitesse stay top

January 19, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

The Eredivisie season resumed this weekend after the winter break and Ajax and Vitesse began their new year with wins to keep them atop of the pile in the Dutch top flight.

The final game of the weekend was the world famous De Klassieker but in all fairness it was a bit of a letdown. Ajax ran out winners against PSV keeping Frank de Boer’s side on top of the division on goal difference. The visitors dominated the opening half, with Ajax on the back foot with left winger Memphis Depay shining the brightest, giving the Ajax defence a torrid time. The young Depay nearly gave Phillip Cocu’s men the lead on 26 minutes with a cute touch that crept just wide after Adam Maher had whipped in the ball.

Two minutes earlier, Jürgen Locadia should have given the Eindhoven side the advantage. Locadia arrive into box on the right, and the on-loan Bryan Ruiz placed him in with a lovely deft chip, but the striker sent his shot inches wide.

With Ajax being forced into their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes, they relied heavily on the counter attack. After the interval, the hosts came out fighting and on 64 minutes they took the lead and it was an excellent goal. A long ball out of defence from Niclas Moisander found Lasse Schöne on the right-wing Schöne, with fantastic technique hit a first time volleyed cross into the box, where Kolbeinn Sigthórsson nodded past Jeroen Zoet for 1-0.

The goal de-motivated the young PSV side and Ajax pressed for a second, but despite efforts from Davy Klaassen and Viktor Fischer they failed to add to their score. PSV’s title challenge is dust and dusted, if it was not already, as Ajax sit joint top with Vitesse, who defeated PEC Zwolle 2-1 on Saturday evening.

It was an eventful first half with Vitesse a goal ahead after in the third minute. Ghanaian on-loan star Christian Atsu twisted and turned through the Zwolle defence, before sliding the ball home past the helpless Diederik Boer. The visitors were not in the lead for long as Guyon Fernandez notched his fifth goal of the season on ten minutes. Then three minutes later, Vitesse winger Renato Ibarra was tripped in the area, but Lucas Piazón could not place the penalty past Boer. Another Chelsea loanee sealed the win for Vitesse in injury time, with Patrick van Aanholt striding up the field from the left wing to fire home.

On Friday, FC Twente defeated local rivals Heracles by three goals to one in the Derby of the East. Quincy Promes continued his great form firing Twente in the lead halfway through the first half and Luc Castaignos doubled the advantage before the hour mark. The visitors were down to ten-men when defender Jeroen Veldmate was shown the red card but Mark Uth gave Heracles some hope when he scored on 76 minutes with a tremendous solo effort. The points were clinched with minutes to go when Luka Đorđević was brought down by Thomas Bruns and Dušan Tadić converted the spot kick.

Twente are up to 37 points with Feyenoord a point behind them in fourth. Ronald Koeman’s men showed they are still challenging for the championship thumping FC Utrecht 5-2 at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday afternoon. Five goals were shared in a crazy first half and it was the hosts that took the lead when Jens Toornstra capitalised on Jordy Clasie’s mistake on 12 minutes. Feyenoord equalised four minutes later when Ruben Schaken turned in Tonny Vilhena’s shot. The best goal of the game gave the visitors the lead when Italian hitman Graziano Pellè delivered a back-heeled flick to Schaken’s cross from the right. Utrecht levelled the game up when Toornstra notched again on 22 minutes, but Feyenoord went into the break with the goal advantage with a Stefan de Vrij header. Schaken got his second on 72 minutes with Vilhena scoring the fifth with a minute to go.

Heerenveen stay in fifth place despite being held to 2-2 draw on Saturday evening with Roda JC, now managed by Jon Dahl Tomasson. Tomasson will be happy with the away point, especially when he would have feared the worst when Hakim Ziyech put Heerenveen ahead on 12 minutes. The teams went into half-time level, as Guus Hupperts’ cross was fired home by Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh. Alfred Finnbogason notched his 18th of the season after Kees Luijckx blocked the Icelandic striker in the area and Finnbogason stepped up to convert for 2-1. However, Roda did not give up and Hupperts scored the equalising goal with a great show of speed and finishing. The 21-year-old overpowered Christian Kum down the right-wing and hit a wonderful outside of the boot finish from an acute angle to score. Tomasson will look to Hupperts in the coming months to help in the relegation fight.

FC Groningen were unlucky to be held by RKC Waalwijk to a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, with Michael de Leeuw giving Groningen the lead on the half-hour mark. However, the visitors were reduced to ten-men when debutant Hans Hateboer was shown red for a foul RKC’s Remy Amieux. RKC snatched the draw with an 89-minute Evander Sno penalty after Maikel Kieftenbeld was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area.

Also on Saturday, AZ Alkmaar defeated NAC Breda 3-0. Steven Berghuis scored a brace along with Aron Johansson goal to help AZ climb to seventh place on 27 points.

ADO Den Haag now prop up the league in 18th after suffering a 3-1 defeat away to NEC Nijmegen. Kevin Conboy hit two alongside a Marnick Vermijl effort while a Danny Holla penalty replied for Den Haag. The win meant that NEC leapfrogged ADO into 17th.

Finally, in a battle of the promoted side, SC Cambuur turned over Go Ahead Eagles by two goals to nil, with Marcel Ritzmaier scoring the best goal of the weekend. In the 18th minute, the midfielder, on-loan from PSV hit a spectacular effort from 30 yards out straight past Eloy Room in the Eagles’ goal. Martijn Barto added a second to see Cambuur rise up to 14th while Go Ahead are four points better in 10th.