Ajax v Willem II
NAC v Vitesse
Twente v AZ
PSV v Heerenveen
VVV Venlo v Roda
Groningen v Utrecht
NEC v Den Haag
Waalwijk v Heracles
Sparta v Feyenoord
Hammer pieces of crooked wood against your windows; it's Rotterdam derby time at Het Kasteel. As has become traditional, the sides approach this from opposing ends of the table with Feyenoord peering down on their neighbours from fourth while Sparta are third from bottom. While the financial pressures haven't completely disappeared from De Kuip, Mario Been has got his charges playing with a verve lacking last season, though they need to start beating the sides above them to be properly considered contenders. Sparta aren't good and have only beaten Waalwijk and Willem II. It looks like another win for Feyenoord.
Top game of the weekend sees champions AZ go to the side that finished behind them last season, current league leaders FC Twente. AZ are in danger of being dropped by the five clubs ahead of them at the moment and this is a key clash in their title defence. Unfortunately, they run into a team playing well and with a steely determination to keep their opponents at bay. Twente to win this one and leave AZ in no man's land on the table especially as the other front runners - PSV and Ajax - both have eminently winnable home games against Heerenveen and Willem II respectively. Utrecht are still in there and go to the woeful Groningen this week with three points very much in mind.
Entertainers VVV Venlo are at home to Roda seeking just their second win of the season, which I fancy them to get. Waalwijk welcome Heracles to the Mandemakers Stadion, but another defeat is on the cards for their long-suffering support to endure. Den Haag go to Nijmegen and Vitesse are in Breda, both of which will probably end in stalemate.
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