Belgian week

Tuesday:
Willem II v Volendam
Vitesse v Heerenveen
Ajax v Heracles
Wednesday:
Twente v NAC
AZ v Roda
Feyenoord v Sparta
Utrecht v De Graafschap
Groningen v NEC
Thursday:
PSV v Den Haag

It's a Belgian week in the Eredivisie with a full programme of midweek fixtures. Top of the bill is the Rotterdam derby at the De Kuip. The sides are level on points and both are deep in trouble. Sparta may have expected to be in this position, but Feyenoord not so. While they have their key off-field appointments made for next season, the problem is that, this season, they are absolutely rubbish. Roy Makaay, on aging legs and the grey beginning to show through, is still quality, if a little slower than in his pomp at Deportivo and Bayern. Trouble is, he's having to do it all and, as a result, looks shot to bits. Jon-Dahl Tomasson is hardly a spring chicken. They have a massive squad, hopelessly bloated in fact, and paying all those wages - some of them extremely high - is crippling the club. Mario Been and Leo Beenhakker will form a mighty managerial partnership next season, but at what level? Caretaker Leon Vlemmings hasn't had a win yet in his short reign. The best he can hope for here is a point and Sparta would be happy with that.

FC Groningen have a tough task in maintaining their good run as durable NEC visit the Euroborg. The Nijmegen side punished Feyenoord at the weekend and are a tough side to beat. Groningen have been winning by the odd goal recently, so expect a low scoring game. Heerenveen are the form side - AZ apart - at the moment and Vitesse welcome them to the Gelredome on Tuesday. Theo Bos's Arnhem side sprung a surprise earlier in the season at the Abe Lenstra which Heerenveen will be keen to avenge, but an encouraging 2-0 win over Willem II will give Vitesse confidence going into this one. Over in Tilburg, Willem II take on Volendam with the visitors buoyed by a good performance away from home at the weekend. Andries Jonker has problems at Tilburg with a host of players missing. He's hired former player Nuelson Wau a contract to the end of the season after the 28-year old defender had been training with the club in order to stay fit.

Suspensions continue to be an issue for Marco van Basten. Jan Verthongen is back, but Thomas Vermaelen is still out after their recent red cards. Heracles are at a bit of a tipping point. A couple of wins and they're back up in the European places, but a couple of defeats and they're right back in the mire. It'll be difficult for them in Amsterdam on Tuesday night. Twente host NAC with the Enschede side looking to become the main challengers to runaway leaders AZ. NAC have European ambitions of their own, but if Twente can convert chances, as they had been doing before the awful 0-0 draw with Utrecht at the weekend, then they ought to be too good, especially on home soil. AZ host Roda and the league leaders should have few problems in racking up three more points as they coast to the championship.

PSV showed immediate improvement since Huub Stevens' resignation, perhaps indicative of the lack of response to Stevens' inimitable managerial style. They welcome Den Haag to the Philipsstadion on Thursday and will be hot favourites to continue on an upward curve. There are still problems at the club which need long-term remedies, but the response to Dwight Lodeweges' caretakership has been encouraging for fans in Eindhoven. De Graafschap are in the slide and travel to Utrecht in rotten form. Having won just once on the road all season, De Graafschap start this one as outsiders, but wins have been hard to come by for Utrecht, the draw specialists, of late. Another 0-0 wouldn't be a surprise.