Heerenveen VS Utrecht Match Prediction

  • Logo2016-08-12
  • Logo18:00:00
Heerenveen
VS
Utrecht

Our Prediction Tip

Utrecht will win this match.

These two sides have regularly featured in Dutch football’s top flight, so it is no surprise to see that they have met a total of 49 times over the years.

Heerenveen hold the historical advantage with 21 wins to Utrecht’s 16 (12 draws), and there has been a see-saw effect to their most recent fixtures: Utrecht won four in a row between December 2012 and November 2013, before Heerenveen got the upper hand in the next three. The most recent meeting saw Utrecht run out 4-0 winners.

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Heerenveen vs FC Utrecht: Prediction

After a disappointing 2015/16 campaign in which they finished 12th, Heerenveen got off to a promising start at Alkmaar and indeed matched their more prestigious opponents in most departments; they both recorded four shots on target, four corners and the possession differential was 52-48 in the home side’s favour, so there was pretty much parity all round.

Utrecht dominated PSV and were perhaps a little unlucky not to take at least a point from the game; it was only defensive naivety that cost them all three. Last season’s top scorer, Sebastian Haller, is already up and running in 2016/16 after opening his account at the weekend, and Utrecht fans will be hoping he can fire his side to a repeat of their fifth place finish of last term. 

It is the youthful nature of the Heerenveen squad – take Schaars and Ghoochannejhad out and the rest are 23-years-old and under – that will be of concern. They won’t lack for energy and drive, but sometimes game management can be found lacking in young players; and how often does that prove crucial?
Last season Heerenveen took 22 points from a possible 51, and Utrecht did likewise on the road, so we don’t need to worry about the former’s home advantage being of importance here. 

Remarkably, only four of the last 24 – and just one of nineteen - encounters between these sides have ended in a draw, so we have to find a winner here. Of the two sides, it is Utrecht that look the most likely.

Heerenveen vs FC Utrecht Betting Tips

The first idea that springs to mind is backing the Heerenveen-Utrecht Double Chance, given that draws happen so infrequently in meetings between the two sides. Available at 3/10, that won’t appeal to everyone but there is enough scope for high rollers to make a good investment.

Seven of the last ten matches (70%) played between these two at Heerenveen’s Abe Lenstra Stadion have witnessed over 2.5 goals (six have gone over 3.5), and with both teams going over this magic mark in their seasonal opener it looks worthy of backing once again at 4/6.

Making a case for a winner either way is tricky, but Utrecht look the stronger side on paper and so their price of 8/5 offers plenty of value.  

This young Heerenveen side got their campaign off to a decent start at the weekend with a 2-2 draw at AZ Alkmaar, and so they will be expected to keep the same starting eleven that earned that creditable point.

Heerenveen likely XI:

  • Goalkeeper:- Erwin Mulder 

  • Defenders:- Stefano Marzo, Jeremiah St Juste, Joost van Aken, Lucas Bijker

  • Midfielders:- Stijn Schaars, Pelle van Amersfoort, Younes Namli

  • Attackers:- Luciano Slagveer, Arber Zeneli, Reza Ghoochannejhad

The measure of how far FC Utrecht have come in recent years can be seen in their opening day defeat to reigning Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven. Utrecht dominated the early stages of the match and led for more than 50 minutes before their opponents’ quality shone through in a 1-2 loss. There is no reason for them to change that team apart from an injury to Sean Klaiber, with Giovanni Troupee set to deputise. 

Utrecht likely XI:

  • Goalkeeper:-Robbin Ruiter

  • Defenders:-Giovanni Troupee, Ramon Leeuwin, Willem Janssen, Kevin Conboy

  • Midfielders:-Yassine Ayoub, Sofyan Amrabat, Rico Strieder, Bart Ramselaar

  • Attackers:-Rubio Rubin, Sebastian Haller

This game is likely to be high scoring and surely set to be a close fought affair too. Heerenveen\'s record at the Abe Lenstra Stadion is not great in recent times, while Utrecht\'s away form in 2015/16 left a little to be desired. They do boast the difference maker in Sebastian Haller however; his 17 goals last season were an essential component of their success, and they have done well to hang on to him so far in the transfer window. It is he who could be the match winner once again on Friday August 12.
The key stat here is that remarkable lack of draws between these two sides: just 16% of the matches played at Heerenveen\'s home ground have ended in a stalemate.