VVV-Venlo Vs FC Utrecht
VVV-Venlo Vs FC Utrecht Friday, 18th September 2020 – 19:00 (GMT)
Netherlands Eredivisie
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 8/13
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 15th September 2020)
Preview: There are usually goals when these teams met, which bodes well ahead of Friday’s clash in Venlo, as VVV-Venlo go in search of their first ever Eredivisie home win over FC Utrecht. Last season’s meeting at De Koel stadium ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Netherlands Eredivisie Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
VVV-Venlo Preview – Second win on the spin might not be forthcoming?
Since returning to the Eredivisie for the 2017-18 season, VVV-Venlo have posted a win on the opening weekend in all four subsequent seasons. A record that was in doubt when going 2-0 behind away to FC Emmen in their first league fixture of 2020-21, before five second-half goals – two of them scored in stoppage-time – saw them somehow escape De Oude Meerdijk stadium with a thrilling 5-3 victory.
Most of the plaudits for last week’s outstanding comeback were reserved for Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis, a summer signing from AEK Athens whose hat-trick in Emmen is three times the figure managed across 30 appearances for his previous employer. Only time will tell whether the 25-year-old will prove a real coup or a first-game fluke, but he now has a home fixture in which to add to his tally.
Venlo haven’t been able to build on their opening success in either of the previous three seasons, though, losing the following fixture in each of the last two. There is every chance that becomes three here. The ‘Yellow Black Army’ have never beaten FC Utrecht in Eredivisie in ten previous attempts on home soil, a dismal record stretching back to 1991 (D4 L6). Meanwhile, only four teams picked up fewer points at home last season (W5 D3 L5).
FC Utrecht Preview – More away day spoils in Venlo?
Their upcoming opponents may have played a starring role in the highest scoring fixture of the first round, but it was FC Utrecht who easily enjoyed a more productive Eredivisie campaign in 2019-20, finishing seven places and thirteen points better off. Their coach, John van den Brom, will certainly hope this translates onto the pitch on Friday when his team turn out for the very first time this season.
With no fixture last weekend, Utrecht should, in theory, be fresher although it is probably more beneficial at this stage to have a competitive game under your belt, something they evidently lack. This hasn’t prevented them from making a winner start in the past, however, having won their first two league games in each of the last three seasons – winning 4-2 away to ADO Den Haag in their first match up of 2019-20.
However, last season’s visit to Venlo proved more problematic than in previous seasons gone by, requiring a late penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw as FC Utrecht failed to win on the road against VVV-Venlo while in league competition for the first time since 2011 (record thereafter now reads W3 D1). That one of four away fixtures van den Brom’s men failed to win before the 2019-20 Eredivise was officially cancelled.
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VVV-Venlo Vs FC Utrecht Betting Advice
It is just as well VVV-Venlo recovered from a losing position to win their opening game of the new Eredivisie season, because their records second time out and when playing FC Utrecht are lousy. The hosts have lost their second match in each of the past two seasons, while they’ve never managed a win at home to Friday’s opponents in ten previous attempts (D4 L6).
VVV-Venlo Vs FC Utrecht – Key Facts
- Only four teams fared worse in home matches last season than VVV-Venlo (W5 D3 L5), whose final five home games of 2019-20 produced only one win (W1 D3 L1) and four goals scored.
- Away wins were few and far between last season for FC Utrecht (W4 D5 L4) whose final four said matches failed to produce a single victory (D3 L1).
- Since first hosting FC Utrecht in the Dutch top flight in 1991, VVV-Venlo have never managed to register a win in ten attempts (D4 L6).
We should be treated to goals at the very least. All four recent head-to-head encounters produced goals for both teams, with 10 of the last 12 meetings going this same way. Therefore, Both Teams to Score is short enough at the current odds but looks a solid enough selection, especially with Venlo still fresh from scoring five last time out and likely needing to score to have any hope versus superior opposition. FC Utrecht 2-1.
Best Betting Odds – VVV-Venlo Vs FC Utrecht
VVV-Venlo – 7/2 (Bet365)
Draw – 3/1 (Betway)
FC Utrecht – 4/5 (Unibet)
