A too timid, too tame and altogether too bloodless appearance at AZ Alkmaar last Sunday already made for the preliminary decision in the Dutch championship. Although the defending champions PSV Eindhoven could theoretically pass Ajax Amsterdam, this would require a football miracle of absolute superlatives. After all, if there is a tie in the Eredivisie goal difference counts. This means that even with a 14 goal better goal difference in the Godenzonen even 15 goals would have to be made up. The same goal difference would eventually take into account the number of goals scored, where the 115 goals of Ajax are also leading. 15 goals mean, for example, that the home fixture against Heracles Almelo would not be enough for a 10-0 victory, even if Amsterdam were unlikely to lose 4-0 at De Graafschap. Of course, a 15-0 win would bring nothing even if scored the troupe of Erik ten Hag itself.
Nevertheless, the team of Mark van Bommel will throw everything into this game again. Also, to maintain the sensational home record, because of PSV Eindhoven against Heracles Almelo, according to odds bookmakers so clearly in the role of favorites. Finally, the Boeren won 15 of their 16 home games in the Eredivisie and have remained completely unbeaten in a draw at the Philips Stadium. The three points missing on Ajax have definitely been left out. Coupled with the away record of the Heraclieden, who were only able to turn four out of the 16 matches in the distance into a threesome, PSV Eindhoven versus Heracles Almelo have a clear prediction for a home win. The only question is how the very low quota could be boosted accordingly. With just six goals conceded at home in the 2018/19 season, we bet that the home win at the end of the season will be conceded without conceding.
PSV Eindhoven:
Last summer, former Bayern player Mark van Bommel took over as coach of the reigning national champions after Phillip Cocu left the club after five years and three championships at Fenerbahce. The yield of the 42-year-old, who previously trained the U19 of the lamps, is mixed: Unless the miracle of the Eindhoven 14-0 victory at the same time Ajax defeat occurs, it will not be a single title won in the first year. Moreover, with the exception of the Eredivisie, the lamps under the leadership of Mark van Bommel seldom glittered with fame. In the Dutch Super Cup, the Johan Cruijff Schaal, there was a loss at the start of the season against the reigning Cup winners Feyenoord Rotterdam on penalties. In the Cup, PSV said goodbye in the second round. And in the Champions League was after a desolate preliminary round with only two draws and four losses as a group last also prematurely.
Only in the Eredivisie it went well for a long time, where actually all signs stood for title defense. Until the Boeren in the second half of the game flow was lost at some point. One bad week in February and one in the first week of April were enough to make Ajax Amsterdam catch up with an unrepeatable residue. Particularly painful here: The many draws in the distance, where in clubs such as FC Emmen, FC Utrecht or SC Heerenveen only 2-2 draw and Vitesse Arnheim despite superior number only 3: 3 draw was played. At PSV Eindhoven versus Heracles Almelo, their home away-from-home clash is hot, with 15 home games, a draw and only six goals conceded in 16 home games at home in Philips Stadium. It is all the more remarkable that these outcomes were rarely retrieved abroad. Only ten won games from 17 games in foreign places ultimately cost the lamps the title.
Nevertheless, Toon Gerbrands board is remarkably satisfied with the first season under Mark van Bommel and officially strengthens the coach, who has 2021 contract, the back. More than the youth work, in the framework of Cody Gakpo, Donyell painting, Mohammed Ihattaren and Michal Sadilek equal four players could be introduced to the first team successfully, can still be found on the credit page. A season with no title will certainly not let the 24-time Dutch champion two years in a row. But before they can be attacked again next season, it’s time to say goodbye to the 2018/19 season and play as if you might believe that the difference to the god zones can be made good.
Heracles Almelo:
Heracles Almelo won two championships a long time ago – more precisely in the years 1927 and 1941. Accordingly, the traditional club is inexperienced at the European level. Accordingly, everyone involved is eager to tackle an adventure in Europe for the first time in the coming season. However, it does not count in this away game, but only in the playoffs next Saturday, which shifts the odds at PSV Eindhoven against Heracles Almelo only more clearly in the direction of the home side. With a long season in the bones it is finally to be assumed that the German coach Frank Wormuth will spare his most important players in the Philips stadium without further ado.
After all, the Heraclieden are no longer out of the top eight to displace, so participation in the playoffs is already in a dry towel. Courage for doing so many strong seasonal results such as the 1-0 home win over Ajax Amsterdam on 9 February 2019, with the Heracles had actually leaked a further match point in the defense of the title. Especially in the final spurt of the season, however, it was not all that good for the club, in which the German players Alexander Merkel and Sebastian Jakubiak have just extended their contracts. Three of the last four games of the season have been lost, while the two contract renewals row out. In order to put together a powerful squad for the new season, a place in the qualification for the Europa League would be an argument, in which all together want to work now. It’s also about learning from the mistakes that have resulted in ten conceded goals in the last four league games to make it better in the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Over 3,5 goals @ 1,56
