Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Utrecht and RKC Waalwijk, the two Conference League playoffs-chasing sides, face each other at Stadion Galgenwaard in a highly-anticipated Eredivisie game. Utrecht quickly bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Feyenoord, with the team outplaying Cambuur 3-0 in the last league match and they must be high on confidence ahead of Saturday’s encounter. A man to watch in the home team will be Greece international Anastasios Douvikas, who scored a brace against Cambuur, while midfielder Taylor Booth is banned for the match. Defender Ramon Hendriks remains on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The visitors, on the other hand, aim to build on a thrilling 4-1 win over Volendam. Since over 2.5 goals have been netted in each of RKC’s last five league matches, a high-scoring affair is on the cards at Stadion Galgenwaard. Anyhow, Utrecht are closer to picking up all three points from the match as they have turned their stadium into a real fortress. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Mike van der Hoorn):
Mike van der Hoorn is a Dutch international who plays for Arminia Bielefeld as a centre-back. Van der Hoorn spent his youth career at the likes of Buitenboys, Omniworld and Utrecht, and he continued playing for the “Cathedral citizens” at senior level.
The Dutch footballer then joined Ajax where he scored three goals in 33 appearances in the Eredivisie. During his spell with the famous Eredivisie club he made 22 appearances for Jong Ajax as well. In 2016 he decided to move to UK as he signed a three-year deal with Swansea City.
After spending four seasons at the Liberty Stadium, Mikel van der Hoorn joined Arminia Bielefeld in the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The Dutch defender made his Bundesliga debut on September 19, 2020 in a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. His primary position is centre-back, and he has a contract with Arminia until June 30, 2023.
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.