Eredivisie week 29

Friday:
NEC v Twente
Saturday:
Utrecht v Groningen
Heracles v Heerenveen
AZ v Den Haag
Sparta v PSV
Sunday:
Roda v Ajax
Volendam v Feyenoord
Willem II v NAC
Vitesse v De Graafschap

The international break didn't effect too many Dutch players in the Eredivisie, but there were plenty of players involved all over the place, few more so than AZ's legion of Belgians. Your current correspondent has opined in the past that the young Belgian side is one to watch out for in the future, but two defeats - both to Bosnia - suggests they've got some development left in them yet. Stijn Schaars and Gil Swerts were among their best and both will be important in AZ's attempts to chalk off another milepost as they go for the first title since 1981. It's surely a matter of time and ADO don't look like halting them for too long. Twente can lay down a marker in their quest for second place and the chance of finishing above all the traditional big four for the first time in their history. A trip to NEC is tricky, but their long unbeaten run doesn't appear to be in jeopardy. Ajax, again, are involved in the Sunday lunchtime game, away in Kerkrade and, again, they look odds on.

Heerenveen and PSV both have winnable games as they lead the charge for the Europa League places. Trond Sollied's side slipped up last time out against De Graafschap, but the trip to Almelo won't hold fears for them while PSV can pour on more pain for Sparta who now look like relying on the ineptitude of the sides below them to keep them up. De Graafschap got off the bottom with that win two weeks ago, but will be doing well to get anything out of the trip to Arnhem. That could open the door for Volendam to get back off the bottom, but Feyenoord are a different proposition to earlier in the season. Goals are still an issue for Leon Vlemming's side, and the clever money says draw here.

Dull game of the season is a contest between Groningen's trip to Utrecht and Willem II against NAC. The last round of fixtures produced a mere thirteen goals, one more than the record low for the Eredivisie. This week could test that record once again.