Emmen - Dordrecht predictions and free betting tips [14/05/2024]

The Eredivisie has played out 38 rounds, meaning it's now time for the play-offs for the chance to participate in the Eredivisie. The remaining spot in the Netherlands élite division will be fought over by 7 clubs, 6 of which will face each other in doubled contests. The "De Oude Meerdijk" ground will host the encounter between Emmen and Dordrecht. Thus far, it's been challenging to predict the favourite, but this will make it even more intriguing for regular fans, and it will be interesting for us to see all the potentials ahead of the starting battle in the Drenthe province, as well to evaluate the likely 1/2 finalists after the encounter.

Emmen

A strong series of wins allowed Emmen to climb into the group of leaders, ending 7th place, which was fantastic for a team that had only recently been stuck mid-table. Furthermore, it's worth noting that before this successful streak, Emmen brought in a new head coach. Thus, Alfonso Arts led the team from the province of Drenthe to the playoffs, although it was Fred Grim who initially set up this team's game. However, there were too many losses in the second half of the season which led the club's management to search for another coach, especially on the eve of the season conclusion.

Emmen has a well-balanced line-up with no obvious weak points. Piotr Parzyszek is the team's top scorer, but he experienced some dips in form this season when he was kept on the bench and Joey Konings took his place. The midfield has its stars at Emmen, for instance, Visente Besuyen, who's been performing exceptionally well following a loan from Aberdeen, with his goals contributing significantly to Arts' team securing a play-off position. In summary, Emmen has a terrific selection of footballers who have shown they're ready to progress in the playoffs and attempt to move further in the tournament, potentially as a humble club, but certainly as a cohesive team.

In the first game against Dordrecht, they need to stick with a defence-oriented game, which suits Alfonso Arts's Emmen, but also they need to utilise their potent counter-attacks, as it's vital to secure a home win.

Dordrecht

The club from South Holland is gradually picking up pace and it seems that this season could be the one to surprise their fans, especially as it marks the club's 140th anniversary.

The team managed by Michele Santoni had a remarkable second half in the "regular" championship, with an impressive 13 match undefeated run. But what's important to note is that Dordrecht performed decently in the 1st half as well. This enabled the team to secure a comfortable position on the log and confidently play the remaining rounds, knowing a spot in the playoffs was already secured.

In terms of player recruitment, Santoni received a strong team. Matis Surai was Dordrecht's top player this season, with a goal-to-pass ratio of 13:6, and Elias Sebaoui was also impressive on his flank, scoring 11 goals during the "regular" season. Shiilo Zanda has a fantastic record, however, he will miss the match against Emmen due to disqualification. In his stead, Yari Schuurman, who has recovered from an injury, is likely to play. Schuurman is no longer a regular starter though, as Rene Krivak is out, so Kored Osundinna, who is in exceptional form, is expected to start.

Michele Santoni's side should play offensively against Emmen, and with such a plethora of classy forwards and powerful midfielders capable of creating plenty of goal chances, it's hard to envision any other approach for this match.

Head-to-Head 

In the two Eredivisie matches this season, Dordrecht bested Emmen. The 1st half saw a 4:2 scoreline, where Konings managed a brace, and there were two red cards and an own goal. In the 2nd half, the score was 2:1, with Konings managing to score yet again, but Emmen fell once more.

Match prediction: Emmen - Dordrecht

I'm betting on ITO2 (1.5). It's highly unlikely Dordrecht will play a dull match in this encounter.