De Graafschap vs Feyenoord Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

De Graafschap were relegated from the Eredivisie at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, but now they are back in the top flight after gaining promotion via the play-offs. Their first match back in the big time couldn’t get much tougher with Super Cup winners Feyenoord providing the opposition at the Stadion De Vijverberg on Sunday. The visitors will be hoping to put more of a title challenge in this season after having to settle for fourth spot in the defence of their title in 2017/18, and have started positively with a Super Cup victory over the champions PSV.

De Graafschap have only lost one of their main players from last season, with goalkeeper Filip Bednarek joining Heerenveen on a free transfer. Plenty of players have come into the club during this transfer window, but not a single fee has been paid or received by the club. Zwolle’s Erik Bakker is the most notable signing as he brings with him plenty of Eredivisie experience, whilst Narsingh, Hamdaoui, van Mieghem, Vet, Nijland, van de Pavert have also signed on free transfers.

The last four pre-season games have not gone to plan for newly promoted De Graafschap as three have ended in defeat and one in a draw. Groningen and IJsselmeervogels both scored three times against De Graafschap, while Aris picked up a 1-0 win, and Al Jazira earned a 1-1 draw with the Dutch outfit. Sunday’s hosts have an entirely Dutch squad, which is not that uncommon for a newly promoted side, and it will be interesting to see if they have the required quality to remain in this division.

Obviously, De Graafschap are one of the favourites to get relegated this season and their main aim will be to finish in fifteenth place at the very least and maintain their status as an Eredivisie club. Thirty-four points proved enough to keep VVV-Venlo up last season, and we’re expecting a similar points total to be good enough to survive this time around as well.

Feyenoord will have been a little disappointed to finish last season in fourth place, especially as they were defending their title. However, a Super Cup victory over PSV has given the Rotterdam club renewed hope of a title challenge this season, and with the squad they have you wouldn’t bet against them pushing Ajax and PSV all the way this time around.

19-year old Luis Sinisterra has come into the club for £1.8m and will operate on the right wing predominantly, while Yassin Ayoub and Joris Delle have arrived on free transfers, with Southampton’s Jordy Clasie arriving on-loan. Four players have left the club for a total of £3.2m, with Vejinović joining AZ, Basacikoglu returning to Turkey, Gustafson heading to Utrecht, and Hamer moving to Zwolle.

In the build up to the Super Cup final Feyenoord were involved in plenty of games that produced over 2.5 goals, including an 8-1 win against SDC Putten, a 5-0 victory over Basel, and a 3-3 draw with Fenerbahce. Swiss side Young Boys did get the better of the Super Cup winners via a convincing 3-0 victory, but Feyenoord recovered and their last pre-season game ended in a 2-1 victory over La Liga side Levante. Nobody gave Feyenoord a chance in the Super Cup final as it was being played against the Eredivisie champions in their own backyard. In fairness to PSV, the hosts dominated the game and reduced Feyenoord to no shots on target as well as dominating possession. As we all know though, a penalty shootout is a lottery and anyone can win, and that’s just what Feyenoord did, courtesy of the prodigal son Jordy Clasie who scored the winning spot kick.

We’re confident that Feyenoord will have too much for the newly promoted side on the opening day and have backed the visitors to win with over 2.5 goals being scored. Feyenoord have won their last four games against De Graafschap and on each occasion over 2.5 goals were scored. Four of De Graafschap’s last six matches have produced over 2.5 goals and three of those games have ended in defeat, while five of Feyenoord’s last six matches have produced over 2.5 goals and three of those have ended in victory. In terms of a final score we’re backing a comfortable 3-1 win for Feyenoord.