Go Ahead Eagles vs AZ Reserves Predictions

With the title out of reach and a Play-off berth already secured, there’s not a great deal at stake for Go Ahead Eagles in the remaining weeks of the regular season and their performance at home to 15^th placed Telstar on Monday night certainly lacked intensity. John Stegeman’s side were second best in going down 2-3 to the IJmuiden outfit, and they may well be looking to keep a bit back from here on in to maximise their promotion chances in May. Eagles turn out at De Adelaarshorst again on match day 33, where they take on a Jong AZ side who gave them a shock way back on match day five.

Go Ahead were in charge at the top of Eerste Divisie in the early weeks of the campaign, but their first set back came in Alkmaar as Jong AZ ran out surprising 3-2 winners at AFAS Stadion.

Following a resounding 4-0 success at home to NEC on Monday night, Michel Vonk’s charges will certainly be gunning to complete an unlikely league double over Eagles in Deventer this Friday and they could well have a chance if the hosts don’t buck up their ideas.

We’re definitely at a stage of the Eerste Divisie season where some of the more accomplished sides can be avoided at short prices, as they potentially start turning their attentions towards the Play-offs in May.

That may well be the case with Go Ahead after Monday’s defeat to Telstar and a recent 1-1 draw at home to 19^th placed Helmond Sport – results which mean John Stegeman’s side make little appeal here at around the 2/5 mark.

It goes without saying that Go Ahead are a far better team than Jong as their 31 point advantage in the table shows, but backing at short odds is not a good idea if there is even the smallest notion that a side is not currently playing at full tilt.

Jong’s aforementioned victory against Go Ahead in September is also a factor here, as is their recent improvement in defence. Notorious for leaking goals here, there and everywhere, Jong have really shored up of late, conceding just four goals in their last six outings and keeping clean sheets in two of their last three games.

Like their September win over Eagles, Monday’s 4-0 romp against NEC shows that the visitors are extremely capable on their day and they should be heading to De Adelaarshorst in great spirits here after completing such a rout over the aspiring Play-off contenders.

But Jong are ultimately still down in 18^th for a reason, and they have so far failed to achieve consecutive victories this term.

That’s enough for us to swerve the match betting in this one, but Go Ahead’s possible lack of drive and Jong’s improved defensive stability points us in the direction of under 2.5 goals at around the 6/4 mark. Six of AZ’s last eight games have produced fewer than three goals, so our selection definitely appears to be overpriced. With a tight encounter anticipated, we’re also opting for a 1-1 correct score.