Willem II vs VVV Venlo Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Two of last seasons relegation battlers go head to head on the opening weekend of the new Eredivisie campaign, as Willem II play host to VVV Venlo on Saturday. Both teams proved their ability at times last season, but were more often let down by defensive errors. If one or both teams have worked on their defensive issues then they may even have what it takes to challenge for a top half finish this season.

Willem II survived last season because of their ability to score goals, and even scored more in total than two of the teams that finished in the top eight, Den Haag and Heerenveen. Keeping hold of goal machine Fran Sol was always going to prove difficult this summer after the 26-year old former Real Madrid and Villarreal striker netted 16 goals in 32 Eredivisie appearances last season. However, the Spanish striker remains at the club for the foreseeable future and with him in the side Willem II always pose a threat going forward.

The only money spent so far by Willem II went on young Leverkusen midfielder Atakan Akkaynak, who cost the club a mere £90k. Left back James McGarry arrives from the A-League, Spanish midfielder Pol Llonch made the switch from Poland, and most notably Dimitrios Kolovos and Aras Özbiliz have arrived on loan. A couple of golden oldies have left the club, with Cameroon’s Eyong Enoh and Nigerian forward Bartholomew Ogbeche failing to have their contracts renewed. Giliano Wijnaldum
has joined Sparta Rotterdam, while defender Darryl Lachman made the move to fellow Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, both on a free transfer.

Much like last season, Willem II’s pre-season has seen mixed results after a 9-0 win was followed by two defeats. The Eredivisie side hammered Dongen 9-0, but were put in their place by a Sparta Rotterdam side that suffered relegation from the top flight of Dutch football last season, beating Willem II 2-0. A final friendly against Aris ended in a 1-0 defeat and has left some questioning whether or not Willem II are ready for the start of what is bound to be another testing season in the Eredivisie.

Pre-season couldn’t have gone much better for VVV, with last seasons fifteenth placed Eredivisie side remaining unbeaten in all of their five friendly matches. Following routine victories over Wittenhorst and De Treffers, VVV then beat freshly relegated FC Twente 2-1 before securing a 1-1 draw with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen. Last weeks 2-0 victory over Volendam concluded what was a very successful pre-season for VVV, but the big question is, can they transfer that form into the Eredivisie this weekend?

No money has been spent on players by VVV so far this transfer window, but Susic, van Ooijen, van Bruggen, and Christian Kum are all free transfers that have joined the club. Four players have been brought in on loan, including 21-year old West Ham midfielder Martin Samuelsen, Leeds United striker Jay-Roy Grot, Dynamo Dresden forward Peniel Mlapa, and PSV goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, who left the club on a free transfer to join the league champions and has immediately returned on loan. The only money VVV have made from player sales has come from PEC Zwolle who bought Vito van Crooij for £585k and Clint Leemans for £315k.

VVV finished one place above the relegation places last season and the transfers both in and out of the club suggest it’s going to be another tough season for Venlo based club. However, VVV have a decent record against Willem II and will fancy their chances of getting the season off to a winning start, especially if their hosts defend as generously as they did so often last season.

We’re confident that both teams will score and that Saturday’s match will feature over 2.5 goals. Last season both teams struggled to defend properly and didn’t keep many clean sheets, with both of their encounters during the 2017/18 campaign producing over 2.5 goals. Three of Willem II’s last six matches have produced over 2.5 goals, and two of those games saw both teams score. Two of VVV’s last three matches have seen both teams score, while two of their last four matches have featured over 2.5 goals. As for a final score, we’re backing Willem II to come out on top with a 3-2 victory.