Friday: NEC - De Graafschap Saturday: Excelsior - RBC Roda JC - FC Twente Vitesse - AZ PSV - NAC Sunday: FC Zwolle - RKC Feyenoord - FC Groningen FC Utrecht - Ajax Match of the Week FC Utrecht - Ajax FC Utrecht has defeated Ajax in the Eredivisie for 3 seasons straight now in de Galgenwaard, and they will look to extend that streak come sunday. The away game this season resulted in a win for Ajax with 3-1; that and the fact that the people in Utrecht still have nightmares about the offside call that wasn't called in the Amstel Cup final last year, will give them even more incentive to beat the Amsterdammers. (of course that they don't like Ajax at all helps as well) Van der Vaart might be making his long awaited return to the playing team for this match. Trivia: FC Utrecht could have been the first club in the world with a heating system for their football field. However at the time the KNVB said it wasn't allowed. Of course these days it's an obligation to have such a system.
Looks like Heerenveen is making a nice run after a slow start. They really pounded lowly De Graafschap last weekend. Any thoughts on who will go Champs League, and who will be relegated? Looks like PSV will have a tough run to win the league this year.
Only the top 2 teams play Champion's League next season, the way the big 3 are beating every other team, I don't really see Feyenoord overtaking Ajax and PSV. So Feyenoord will probably play UEFA Cup next season. FC Zwolle will probably be the team that relegates outright (and be replaced by FC Den Haag ) would be fun to see usual sub-top teams like FC Twente and Vitesse play nacompetitie to secure their spots in the top league, but I think they will win most of their remaining matches to get out of the danger zone. (Twente actually already started before the winterstop, they were in the last place not so long ago)
I actually hope that FC Groningen can make it this season without being relegated. The eredivisie lost Sparta last season and with it, lost some luster and tradition. To some degree, that would be the same with Groningen if they were to be relegated.
I don't think Groningen will get relegated, they might have to play in de nacompetitie..but they should have a better team than the clubs they will face in that competition. NEC - De Graafschap 1-0 Neesken's team barely managed to get the 3 points from this derby. Didn't see the match, but I read it was a bore-fest as derbies go, and that De Graafschap (who I wouldn't mind seeing in the Gouden Gids Divisie ) played with a very defensive strategy. Jong Oranje forward Hersi made the only goal in the game for the deserved home win. This is the 3rd straight defeat for de Graafschap, and the 3rd straight win for NEC who are currently positioned 4th in the league and will face Willem II on tuesday in an early battle for an UEFA Cup spot.