Prediction: Venlo vs Almere City

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: BetUS

The semifinals of the Eredivisie promotion play-offs are being played this week, and on Tuesday evening, VVV Venlo will play host to Almere City at the De Koel in the first leg.

VVV Venlo

Having entered the season with Rick Kruys as the newly appointed head coach, Venlo finished in seventh place in the Eerste Divisie table with 58 points, 10 less than Willem II in fourth, and just one less than MVV and NAC in fifth and sixth, respectively. To get to this semifinal, they first had to dispose of Willem II in the quarterfinals, and they did so by winning the first leg at home and drawing the second away.

VVV’s last-six run consists of a 0-1 defeat at home to Jong Ajax, the “B” side of the four-time European champions, a 1-1 draw away to Helmond Sport, a 2-1 home win over De Graafschap, a 1-1 draw away to Jong FC Utrecht, and the two legs against Willem II: a 3-2 win at home, and a 2-2 draw away.

After watching them for two seasons in the second tier of Dutch football, the Venlo supporters will be eager to see their team play in the Eredivisie again.

Team News

Kruys hasn’t ruled any player out of this game so far, but attacking midfielder Levi Smans and defender Sem Dirks are classed as doubts at this point.

Ennio van der Gouw should be in goal. The centre-back duo of Rick Ketting and Brian Koglin should be flanked by Simon Janssen and Tristan Dekker. Kees De Boer is expected to start alongside Robert Klaasen and Mitchell van Rooijen in the middle of the park. Upfront, Nick Venema and Daan Huisman should provide support for captain Sven Braken.

Almere City

Almere did notably better than Venlo in the main part of the season, finishing third with 70 points, though that’s still 15 less than league winners Heracle and PEC Zwolle in second place, the two spots that lead directly into the Eredivisie. Like Venlo, they’ll now have to look for a way through these play-offs.

The first step was successful as Almere moved past FC Eindhoven. They lost the first leg in Eindhoven, but bounced back with a more convincing win at home in the second.

Alex Pastoor’s team smashed TOP Oss 0-5 away at the start of the current last-six run, followed by a 0-2 defeat at home to NEC, a 2-2 draw away to Den Bosch and a 1-0 win over MVV. The first leg against FC Eindhoven ended with a 1-0 loss, but the rematch at home was won by 3-1.

Team News

With no injury fresh injury concerns in at this stage, Pastoor is likely to keep the same starting XI he named in the second leg against Eindhoven.

Nordin Bakker should be between the posts, with Hamdi Akujobi and Jorrit Smeets flanking Damian van Bruggen and Theo Barbet in the back line. In midfield, Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp and Alvaro Pena should be joined by Stije Resink, and upfront, Jeredy Hilterman should have Pascu and Lance Duijvensijn in support.

Conclusion

Venlo will likely seek to gain some advantage ahead of the second leg, but the visitors will, of course, have different ideas. An equal contest appears likely in this clash.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: BetUS