De Graafschap vs Willem II Predictions

Both De Graafschap and Willem II were victorious in the KNVB Beker in midweek, but have both gone a number of games without a win in the Eredivisie. Newly promoted De Graafschap play host to Willem II in the Eredivisie on Sunday with four points and eight places separating the teams ahead of kick-off.

High flying Heracles gave De Graafschap a footballing lesson last weekend as they picked up another three points in their excellent start to the season. An own goal from the unfortunate Vet gave Heracles the lead in Almelo, and that goal separated the two clubs at half time.

Once Peterson added a second goal for the hosts shortly before the hour mark it forced De Graafschap’s hand and the visitors pushed forward in search of a goal that could get them back into the match. Instead, Heracles punished their guest with two late goals from Kuwas and then Vermeij to wrap up a 4-0 win.

Insult was added to injury in the eighty-eighth minute as Serrarens was shown a straight red card, leaving the visitors with ten-men, but the 4-0 scoreline didn’t flatter the hosts as they dominated this game. Heracles had 57% of the overall possession, eighteen shots to nine, and eleven corners to the visitors three.

With two league goals this season Serrarens top scores for De Graafschap, but his sending-off late on against Heracles means the Dutchman is unavailable to play for the next few games. Willem II’s star Spanish striker is off to a great start this season with six goals in as many matches, and he was on target during the visitors eight-goal thriller against Fortuna Sittard.

A fourteenth minute strike from Dammers handed Fortuna Sittard an early lead at home to Willem II, but an own goal from El Messaoudi levelled the match in the twenty-seventh minute. In the thirty-fourth minute Willem II took the lead for the first time thanks to their top scorer Fran Sol, but the teams would go in level at the break thanks to a fortieth minute strike from American Novakovich.

Just a minute into the second half and Willem II carved out a third goal of the game via Avdijaj, but the lead only lasted eight minutes until Novakovich scored his second of the game to make it 3-3. In the seventy-second minute Crowley looked to have won the game for the visitors when he made it 4-3, but once again Fortuna Sittard showed their ‘never give up’ attitude and rescued a point thanks to a goal from José Rodríguez.

Willem II could and should have won last weekend as they had 54% of the overall possession away from home, twice as many shots on target as their hosts and, of course, took the lead three times. While a draw isn’t the worst of results, Willem II will be disappointed to have conceded twelve goals in their last three Eredivisie games.

We’re confident that Willem II can put things right on Sunday and have backed the visitors to win and for over 2.5 goals to be scored in the process. Willem II have won three of their last six matches in all competitions, while De Graafschap have lost four of their last six in all competitions. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of De Graafschap’s last six matches and in each of Willem II’s last five matches. In Terms of a final score, we’re going with a 3-2 win for Willem II.