Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Willem II will be aiming to make amends for back-to-back defeats to AZ Alkmaar and Heracles when they take on RKC Waalwijk on Matchday 30. The Tricolores are level on points with Venlo, who sit in the relegation zone, meaning that Friday’s football match is of big importance for the home team. All Heerkens, Nelom, Peters, and Ruiter are all sidelined with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the home team.
Fred Grim’s troops suffered a dip in form as well, with the team losing to both AZ Alkmaar and Heracles in the previous two league fixtures. Anyhow, both teams to score betting option should be considered as both Willem II and RKC Waalwijk will go for a win in Friday’s showdown. As for the visiting team, both El Haddouti and Wouters are out of contention through injuries.
Highlighted Player (Robbin Ruiter):
Robbin Ruiter is a Dutch professional goalkeeper who plays for Eredivisie club Willem II. Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on March 25, 1987, the 196-cm-tall shot-stopper is a product of RKAV Volendam youth team.
Speaking of his senior career, Ruiter began playing for FC Volendam. After making 70 league appearances for the Het Andere Oranje, the goalkeeper joined Utrecht in 2012 where he quickly established himself as a first-team regular. After short spells with Sunderland and PSV, Robbin Ruiter signed a two-year contract with Willem II in the summer of 2020. It has to be noted that he did well to make it to the EFL Trophy final with Sunderland in the 2018/19 season.
The Black Cats suffered a loss to Portsmouth in the decider, with the Pompey winning the trophy after penalty shoot-out. Robin Ruitter has yet to make his debut with the Netherlands national football team.
Highlighted Team (Waalwijk):
RKC Waalwijk is a Dutch club that competes in the Eredivisie. RKC returned to the Dutch top flight in the 2019/20 season, and they were more than fortunate not to suffer relegation back to Eerste Divisie. Fred Grim’s men were stuck at the bottom of the table when the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, they did not drop to the Dutch second tier. RKC play home games at Mandemakers Stadion, the venue which can hold only 7,500 spectators. RKC Waalwijk are well known for their yellow shirts with blue strips, but their away kit is mainly black. The Mandemakers Stadion outfit have never won the national championship.
RKC, though, represented the Netherlands in European competitions in the past, with team taking part in Intertoto Cup on four occasions. Willem II are seen as one of the club’s main rivals, with the two teams facing each other in the Brabantse derby.