Heerenveen vs De Graafschap

Heerenveen was close to obtain the European ticket last season when the team finished as seventh in the regular part of the season but then surprised everyone with positive performance against Feyenoord in additional play-off rounds, as they eliminated them but were stopped at the last obstacle being defeated against Vitesse and the European competitions remained only a dream. The team is surely welcoming now new season in order to make further steps towards European scene.

Team isn’t having such a tough schedule early in the season, so their fight surely starts with this game as the team has a nice chance to open the season in a best possible way. They made some changes during Summer transfer window, as the team sold their first striker Utha, but goalkeeper Nordfeldt left the team too plus few others who weren’t that important in the previous year. They did great job to sign strikers Vrede from Feyenoord and talented Zahovic from Maribor, while new goalkeeper Mulder also came from Feyenoord, reinforcing the team with couple of defending players as well. Coach Dwight Lodeweges will start with few newly signed players, while he can’t count at talented central defenders Jerry St. Juste and Joost van Aken due injuries. Sidelined are also midfielder Pele van Anholt and most likely, offensive player Slagveer who remains questionable.



De Graafschap finished the previous season on sixth position in second tier of Dutch football and actually nobody expected them to win the promotion through additional play-off rounds. Mostly because they were far from consistent during the season, ending it fourty points away from first placed NEC Nijmegen and nineteen points below the second placed Eindhoven. Anyhow, the team showed the most when it was needed the most.

Surely the team is now entering the season with only one target – to preserve the status and stay playing in Eredivisie for more than a year, wanting to avoid express return to the lower rank. They brought a lot of players during Summer, but it still remains to be seen whether they’ll be able to start playing fluently right away – and more importantly, if the players have enough quality for Eredivisie level. Most notable signing was midfielder Driver from Aberdeen and striker Kabasele from Anderlecht (taken on loan). On the other side, couple of important players have left the team as well. With nothing to lose, they are expected to be a bit more attacking and willing to risk, trying to impress in the season opener. Coach Jan Vreman has fully fit squad to choose from.

Home side is a favorite to get a three pointer here, but at the same time they have quite big problem with injured players, especially in the defensive lineup. Open game is expected here with plenty of goals as the home side remains favorite, but probably playing with big number of defensive mistakes.
Bet: Over 3 goals @ 1.85