Heracles vs. Sparta (Saturday, 3.30pm)
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Matchday 18 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season sees Heracles and Sparta Rotterdam go head-to-head at the Erve Asito on Saturday afternoon in a crunch relegation six-pointer.
A torrid end to 2024 has left the teams currently embroiled in a frenetic battle for survival, and every point dropped from here on out could prove costly to their top-flight status.
We say: Heracles 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Clean sheets have been a rare occurrence for both teams, and we expect neither of them to come away unscathed from this one.
That said, we are also backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Ajax vs. RKC Waalwijk (Saturday, 5.45pm)
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The Eredivisie is set to resume this weekend, and on Saturday, we will see Ajax face off against a struggling RKC Waalwijk at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam.
These sides enter the New Year with contrasting ambitions, with the hosts looking to mount a challenge for the title while the visitors are aiming to avoid relegation.
We say: Ajax 3-1 RKC Waalwijk
Despite dropping points during the run-in to the end of 2024, Ajax were excellent at home across the entire first half of the season. The hosts have dominated this fixture, winning each of the last 12 top-flight matches against RKC, and we feel they will secure another fairly comfortable victory this weekend.
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PEC Zwolle vs. Nijmegen (Saturday, 7.00pm)
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PEC Zwolle and NEC both endured a tough first half of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season and will be hoping for improved fortunes when they get the second half underway with a meeting at the MAC³PARK Stadion on Saturday.
Having already lost twice to the home side this term, the visitors will be seeking to exact revenge for August's 4-3 defeat in the reverse meeting and October's KNVB-Beker exit.
We say: PEC Zwolle 1-2 NEC
A meeting between two struggling teams is usually the perfect opportunity for either of them to get back on track by securing all three points.
We are anticipating a keenly contested game here with the away side just about coming out on top at the end of the 90 minutes.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
PSV vs. AZ (Saturday, 8.00pm)
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The final curtain on Saturday in the Eredivisie brings us a blockbuster matchup, with PSV Eindhoven set to take on AZ Alkmaar at Philips Stadion.
Both these sides ended 2024 with important victories to head into the break in the top five, and they will be looking to kickstart the New Year on a positive note.
We say: PSV Eindhoven 3-1 AZ Alkmaar
While AZ ended 2024 with an excellent run of results, it is difficult to back against PSV on their home patch, as they have won every league match at Philips Stadion this season and are unbeaten in the top flight at the venue since November 2022.
We feel the hosts will add to that record with another victory in this one.
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Ben Knapton
