Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
There will be fireworks when Zwolle and Venlo face each other in the relegation six-pointer. Zwolle aim to make amends for back-to-back defeats to Heracles and Ajax, and they will not have a better chance than this to get back on course. Fit-again Serbian rising star Slobodan Tedic is pushing for a start. Venlo, on the other hand, are on a five-game losing run in the Eredivisie.
The visitors conceded ten goals in total in the previous three league fixtures, and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Zwolle’s party at MACPARK Stadion. Both Dekker and Machach are likely to miss the game through injuries. Even though the two teams played out a 2-2 draw in the first half of the season, we predict that Zwolle will take advantage of Venlo’s poor form. Thomas Buitink is widely expected to lead the line for the hosts.
Highlighted Player (Thomas Lam):
Thomas Lam is a footballer who can play as both centre back and defensive midfielder. Lam was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 18 December, 1993, but seeing that his mother is Finnish, he was eligible to play for the Finland national team.
After making 11 appearances for the Finland U21 team, he made his debut for the senior team on 9 June, 2015, in a friendly against Estonia. He started the game, but the Finns suffered a 2-0 loss to the Estonians in Turku. Speaking of his club career, Thomas Lam played for AZ Alkmaar between 2011 and 2014 and then he joined fellow Eredivisie side Zwolle.
The 188-cm-tall footballer scored four goals in 64 appearances for the club and in July 2016 he signed a contract with Nottingham Forest. Lam won the KVNB Cup with AZ Alkmaar in 2013 and he was named Promising Player of the Year in 2011. His agent is world-famous Mino Raiola and his contract with Forest expires on 30 June, 2018.
Highlighted Team (Venlo):
Based on the Dutch-German border, VVV-Venlo is a Dutch football club that plays in the Eredivisie. The club was founded on February 7, 1903 under the name of Venlose Voetbal Vereniging, and it’s considered one of the oldest clubs in Dutch football.
VVV Venlo are well known for their yellow shirts and black shorts, and, as a result, they are often called the Yellow Black Army. Venlo play home games at De Koel, the stadium which is able to hold up to 8,000 spectators.
Japan international Keisuke Honda is one of the most notable international footballers who played for the club. However, Honda is not the only Japanese player to wear the yellow jersey as the likes of Maya Yoshida, Robert Cullen, and Yuki Otsu played for the club as well. Roda JC are seen as one of the club’s main rivals, with the two clubs facing each other in the Limburgse derby.