League leaders PSV have a relatively easy restart after the winter break, when they travel to struggling VVV-Venlo on Sunday. Title holders FC Twente have a tough match at FC Groningen.
On Saturday Feyenoord plays at home versus De Graafschap to seek consolation for their 2-0 loss in ‘De Klassieker’ at Ajax on Wednesday. NAC Breda visits NEC. The clubs are ranked ninth and tenth respectively, but the gap between the two is five points. NAC have a good record in Nijmegen, winning 10 from 30 Eredivisie matches in stadium De Goffert. NEC won eight and both clubs drew 12 times.
Ajax meet FC Utrecht at home on Sunday, whereas league leaders PSV travel to VVV-Venlo. Title holders and current number two ranked FC Twente have a tough away job at FC Groningen on Sunday.
ADO returns to action with a crucial match against sc Heerenveen on Friday. Both clubs are in contention to qualify for Europa League tickets. Heerenveen are ranked seventh, with a one point advantage over ADO who are ninth. “Heerenveen is a good team”, ADO-coach John van den Brom said. “But at home we are afraid of nobody.”
ADO will miss forward Frantisek Kubik and defender Christian Kum due to injuries. Club top scorer Dmitri Bulykin, who hit the target 11 times in 15 matches, is back from an ankle injury, but not ready for ninety minutes yet.
Heerenveen coach Ron Jans does not have injury worries and looks ahead with confidence, despite the 2-1 loss against Excelsior in the winter break. “That was a friendly match, and we actually played excellent in the first half. We are in shape.” At ADO drew 0-0 this season. Together with AZ Heerenveen is the only club to hold a clean sheet versus ADO this season.
Heracles got battered 5-0 at neighbors FC Twente, their worst defeat of the season on Wednesday. On Saturday they’ll have a chance to regroup at home against AZ. Playing on their own artificial turf is a big advantage for Heracles, who only lost one of their last 14 home matches.
Last season Heracles started the competition with a 3-2 home win against AZ. Current AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek was in charge of the Almelo team at the time. Verbeek knows Heracles very well, having played there in the 1986/87 season and having spent two spells as head coach in Almelo as well. Heracles had their best historical league result with Verbeek in charge when they ended sixth last season.
Current number five ranked AZ comes from a disappointing 2-2 home draw in the previously postponed match against NEC on Wednesday. Their points loss increased the gap with fourth ranked FC Groningen to four points.
NAC Breda and NEC are ranked ninth and tenth respectively, but the gap between the two is five points. NAC have a good record in Nijmegen, winning 10 from 30 Eredivisie matches in stadium De Goffert. NEC won eight and both clubs drew 12 times.
NAC come from a tough Cup 1-0 win over second division club Telstar on Tuesday. “Telstar could have won this”, NAC-coach Gert Aandewiel said. To beat NEC his team will have to do better.
NEC drew their previously postponed match against AZ 2-2 on Wednesday, with Björn Vleminckx on fire again. The Belgian striker struck twice and confirmed his status as Eredivisie top scorer with 15 goals. The only Belgian to ever end up as Eredivisie top scorer was Luc Nilis, who did it twice (1995/96 and 1996/97).
“Ready for a comeback”, writes the optimistic editor of the club website about Willem II’s restart after the winter break. If the Tricolores manage to avoid relegation this season, it could be called a miracle. The club is still waiting for its first victory after 19 matches this season. Vitesse are also struggling. Ranked 15th the Arnhem club is just two points above the danger zone.
Both Willem II and Vitesse had a training camp in the Turkish town of Belek and both teams played two friendly matches against Turkish opponents. Willem II lost 2-0 against Konyaspor and drew 0-0 against Eskisehirspor. Vitesse lost 501 against Kayserispor, but won 2-0 against Karabükspor.
Vitesse-Willem II ended in a goalless draw earlier this season. That marked Willem II’s first point after a seven match losing streak to start the season.
Feyenoord will be searching a consolation win against De Graafschap on Saturday after their 2-0 defeat against Ajax in ‘De Klassieker’ on Wednesday. A win would help them take over the twelfth ranked ‘Superboeren’.
The previous 17 editions of Feyenoord-De Graafschap resulted in 14 home wins, one draw and two away wins. The last time De Graafschap visited stadium ‘De Kuip’ they won 3-1 on 7 December 2008. Earlier this season De Graafschap held Feyenoord to a 1-1 draw in Doetinchem. Hugo Bargas scored the home goal, but the injured Argentine striker will probably not play in Rotterdam.
Forward Jhonny van Beukering will be in the Feyenoord starting lineup to replace youngster Luc Castaignos. “Luc is a fine and talented player, who is having a bad spell at the moment”, coach Mario Been said. Castaignos did however score in all of Feyenoord’s last four home matches. The last Feyenoord player to score five home matches in a row was Angelos Charisteas in 2006. Van Beukering, who has had many weight troubles in the past, came transfer free to Feyenoord after having been without a club for several months because NEC did not renew his contract at the end of last season.
Ajax picked up well after the winter break with a 2-0 victory against Feyenoord on Wednesday. Although the ‘Godenzonen’ play a refreshed 4-3-3 style game since Frank de Boer took over from Martin Jol, the team do have one serious problem. With Luis Suarez still suspended and Mounir El Hamdaoui injured, they lack a goal scoring striker. FC Utrecht will try to take advantage on Sunday, but for a victory Utrecht has to be the first team to score against Ajax with Frank de Boer on the bench.
Utrecht defeated Ajax 2-1 in Amsterdam earlier this season. For the ‘Domstedelingen’ Ajax is the most important opponent of the season. Utrecht coach Ton du Chatinier even refused to speak out the name Ajax according to the newly acquired Kevin Strootman. The former Sparta player made his Utrecht debut in the 2-1 win at VVV-Venlo on Wednesday.
Utrecht defeated Ajax twice in one season only once in the 2005/06 season. The last club that managed to grab a double win in one season against Ajax was sc Heerenveen in 2008/2009. PSV, Feyenoord, sc Heerenveen and Vitesse are the only clubs to have done this twice in Eredivisie history.
“We’ll have to set the pace of the game on Sunday”, PSV coach Fred Rutten said about the away match against VVV-Venlo on Sunday. “They will play defensively and w’ll play to win.” VVV was not able to win its last ten home matches against PSV in the Eredivisie. The last home win came on 12 September 1976, when VVV won 2-0.
PSV are league leaders, but they will have to prove what they are worth in the second half of the season. Fred Rutten’s team were not able to win their last three away matches in the Eredivisie.
VVV almost grabbed its first point of 2011 when they played at home against FC Utrecht on Wednesday, but the visitors managed to score 2-1 in the 90th minute. Ranked 17th with ten points from 19 matches VVV are in severe relegation trouble.
FC Groningen faces a crucial spell in this season. After their 3-2 Cup win against amateur team SC Genemuiden they will restart the league at home against FC Twente on Sunday. After playing the number two ranked titleholders Groiningen will visit FC Utrecht and sc Heerenveen respectively.
Twente already played their first match after the winter break when they crushed neighbors Hercales Almelo 5-0 in a postponed match on Wednesday. Striker Bryan Ruiz, midfielder Theo Janssen and defender Thilo Leugers were absent in that match and they are doubtful for Sunday’s game.
When Groningen visited Enschede this season the home team won 4-2. Twente defeated Groningen twice in one season seven times before.
“We’ll only be satisfied if we grab three points on Sunday”, Roda JC coach Harm van Veldhoven said about the home match against Excelsior. The home team are sixth on the table with 32 points from 19 matches, twice as much as sixteenth ranked Excelsior.
Excelsior visited Roda 12 times before in the Eredivisie, which resulted in five home wins, three away wins and four draws. The last time was on 29 September 2007, when the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
This season Excelsior did not yet win an away game. Home and away they did not manage to win in their last 13 games.
Ajax meet FC Utrecht at home on Sunday, whereas league leaders PSV travel to VVV-Venlo. Title holders and current number two ranked FC Twente have a tough away job at FC Groningen on Sunday.
ADO returns to action with a crucial match against sc Heerenveen on Friday. Both clubs are in contention to qualify for Europa League tickets. Heerenveen are ranked seventh, with a one point advantage over ADO who are ninth. “Heerenveen is a good team”, ADO-coach John van den Brom said. “But at home we are afraid of nobody.”
ADO will miss forward Frantisek Kubik and defender Christian Kum due to injuries. Club top scorer Dmitri Bulykin, who hit the target 11 times in 15 matches, is back from an ankle injury, but not ready for ninety minutes yet.
Heerenveen coach Ron Jans does not have injury worries and looks ahead with confidence, despite the 2-1 loss against Excelsior in the winter break. “That was a friendly match, and we actually played excellent in the first half. We are in shape.” At ADO drew 0-0 this season. Together with AZ Heerenveen is the only club to hold a clean sheet versus ADO this season.
Heracles got battered 5-0 at neighbors FC Twente, their worst defeat of the season on Wednesday. On Saturday they’ll have a chance to regroup at home against AZ. Playing on their own artificial turf is a big advantage for Heracles, who only lost one of their last 14 home matches.
Last season Heracles started the competition with a 3-2 home win against AZ. Current AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek was in charge of the Almelo team at the time. Verbeek knows Heracles very well, having played there in the 1986/87 season and having spent two spells as head coach in Almelo as well. Heracles had their best historical league result with Verbeek in charge when they ended sixth last season.
Current number five ranked AZ comes from a disappointing 2-2 home draw in the previously postponed match against NEC on Wednesday. Their points loss increased the gap with fourth ranked FC Groningen to four points.
NAC Breda and NEC are ranked ninth and tenth respectively, but the gap between the two is five points. NAC have a good record in Nijmegen, winning 10 from 30 Eredivisie matches in stadium De Goffert. NEC won eight and both clubs drew 12 times.
NAC come from a tough Cup 1-0 win over second division club Telstar on Tuesday. “Telstar could have won this”, NAC-coach Gert Aandewiel said. To beat NEC his team will have to do better.
NEC drew their previously postponed match against AZ 2-2 on Wednesday, with Björn Vleminckx on fire again. The Belgian striker struck twice and confirmed his status as Eredivisie top scorer with 15 goals. The only Belgian to ever end up as Eredivisie top scorer was Luc Nilis, who did it twice (1995/96 and 1996/97).
“Ready for a comeback”, writes the optimistic editor of the club website about Willem II’s restart after the winter break. If the Tricolores manage to avoid relegation this season, it could be called a miracle. The club is still waiting for its first victory after 19 matches this season. Vitesse are also struggling. Ranked 15th the Arnhem club is just two points above the danger zone.
Both Willem II and Vitesse had a training camp in the Turkish town of Belek and both teams played two friendly matches against Turkish opponents. Willem II lost 2-0 against Konyaspor and drew 0-0 against Eskisehirspor. Vitesse lost 501 against Kayserispor, but won 2-0 against Karabükspor.
Vitesse-Willem II ended in a goalless draw earlier this season. That marked Willem II’s first point after a seven match losing streak to start the season.
Feyenoord will be searching a consolation win against De Graafschap on Saturday after their 2-0 defeat against Ajax in ‘De Klassieker’ on Wednesday. A win would help them take over the twelfth ranked ‘Superboeren’.
The previous 17 editions of Feyenoord-De Graafschap resulted in 14 home wins, one draw and two away wins. The last time De Graafschap visited stadium ‘De Kuip’ they won 3-1 on 7 December 2008. Earlier this season De Graafschap held Feyenoord to a 1-1 draw in Doetinchem. Hugo Bargas scored the home goal, but the injured Argentine striker will probably not play in Rotterdam.
Forward Jhonny van Beukering will be in the Feyenoord starting lineup to replace youngster Luc Castaignos. “Luc is a fine and talented player, who is having a bad spell at the moment”, coach Mario Been said. Castaignos did however score in all of Feyenoord’s last four home matches. The last Feyenoord player to score five home matches in a row was Angelos Charisteas in 2006. Van Beukering, who has had many weight troubles in the past, came transfer free to Feyenoord after having been without a club for several months because NEC did not renew his contract at the end of last season.
Ajax picked up well after the winter break with a 2-0 victory against Feyenoord on Wednesday. Although the ‘Godenzonen’ play a refreshed 4-3-3 style game since Frank de Boer took over from Martin Jol, the team do have one serious problem. With Luis Suarez still suspended and Mounir El Hamdaoui injured, they lack a goal scoring striker. FC Utrecht will try to take advantage on Sunday, but for a victory Utrecht has to be the first team to score against Ajax with Frank de Boer on the bench.
Utrecht defeated Ajax 2-1 in Amsterdam earlier this season. For the ‘Domstedelingen’ Ajax is the most important opponent of the season. Utrecht coach Ton du Chatinier even refused to speak out the name Ajax according to the newly acquired Kevin Strootman. The former Sparta player made his Utrecht debut in the 2-1 win at VVV-Venlo on Wednesday.
Utrecht defeated Ajax twice in one season only once in the 2005/06 season. The last club that managed to grab a double win in one season against Ajax was sc Heerenveen in 2008/2009. PSV, Feyenoord, sc Heerenveen and Vitesse are the only clubs to have done this twice in Eredivisie history.
“We’ll have to set the pace of the game on Sunday”, PSV coach Fred Rutten said about the away match against VVV-Venlo on Sunday. “They will play defensively and w’ll play to win.” VVV was not able to win its last ten home matches against PSV in the Eredivisie. The last home win came on 12 September 1976, when VVV won 2-0.
PSV are league leaders, but they will have to prove what they are worth in the second half of the season. Fred Rutten’s team were not able to win their last three away matches in the Eredivisie.
VVV almost grabbed its first point of 2011 when they played at home against FC Utrecht on Wednesday, but the visitors managed to score 2-1 in the 90th minute. Ranked 17th with ten points from 19 matches VVV are in severe relegation trouble.
FC Groningen faces a crucial spell in this season. After their 3-2 Cup win against amateur team SC Genemuiden they will restart the league at home against FC Twente on Sunday. After playing the number two ranked titleholders Groiningen will visit FC Utrecht and sc Heerenveen respectively.
Twente already played their first match after the winter break when they crushed neighbors Hercales Almelo 5-0 in a postponed match on Wednesday. Striker Bryan Ruiz, midfielder Theo Janssen and defender Thilo Leugers were absent in that match and they are doubtful for Sunday’s game.
When Groningen visited Enschede this season the home team won 4-2. Twente defeated Groningen twice in one season seven times before.
“We’ll only be satisfied if we grab three points on Sunday”, Roda JC coach Harm van Veldhoven said about the home match against Excelsior. The home team are sixth on the table with 32 points from 19 matches, twice as much as sixteenth ranked Excelsior.
Excelsior visited Roda 12 times before in the Eredivisie, which resulted in five home wins, three away wins and four draws. The last time was on 29 September 2007, when the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
This season Excelsior did not yet win an away game. Home and away they did not manage to win in their last 13 games.
