Dutch EreDivision
2008-09-13 - PSV Eindhoven vs Sparta Rotterdam
A Sports Betting Pick by Erik
Saturday 13th September 2008 - KO 18:45 Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven
PSV started the new season with a very comfortable 1-5 win on the road to FC Utrecht after taking a 0-3 lead at halftime.
Facing a seriously weakened home side it was Afellay opening the score for PSV four minutes from halftime after a cracking shot from the edge of the box. Three minutes later new signing Amrabat netted the ball behind the FC Utrecht goalkeeper taking optimum profit from a poor pass of FC Utrecht defender Dickoh.
With Koevermans finding the net in the injury time of the first half the game seemed done and dusted with Afellay and Koevermans both scoring their second goal of the game in the second half. In the final minute of the match FC Utrecht youngster Uitterloo determined the final score on 1-5 scoring his first goal in the Eredivisie in his debut game in the first selection of the hosts.
SPARTA ROTTERDAM
Sparta suffered a 2-5 defeat at home against ADO Den Haag despite grabbing the lead four minutes into the first half with John netting the ball behind Zwinkels.
Sparta were missing four defenders with Van Gessel, Knol, Promes and Adeleye all remaining sidelined it was ADO Den Haag scoring three times in the remainder of the first half to take a 3-1 lead at halftime.
After central defender Horvath leveled the score in the 15th minute from a corner kick it was Cornelisse firing the visitors into the lead from eleven meters and ten minutes from halftime Knopper fired his team to a two-goal margin.
In the second half a goal from Sparta striker Rose brought the hosts back into the game, especially after the sending off of ADO midfielder Rankovic but goals from Knopper and Caracciolo allowed ADO to book one of their biggest away wins in the history of the club.
Previous meetings
23/01/2008 PSV - Sparta 3-1
28/10/2007 Sparta - PSV 1-4
11/02/2007 Sparta - PSV 1-1
25/10/2006 PSV - Sparta 7-0
15/01/2006 Sparta - PSV 0-1
05/11/2005 PSV - Sparta 3-0
Since 1990 PSV and Sparta met each other fifteen times in Eindhoven of which PSV managed to book fourteen wins and suffered only one defeat in the season 1995/1996. PSV scored 55 goals in these fifteen game against 11 goals from Sparta.
Injuries/suspensions
PSV : Bas Roorda (gk) (back injury), Jan Kromkamp (def) (knee injury), Amrabat (att) (doubtful, possible suspension)
Sparta : Ruud Knol (def) (physical condition), Sander van Gessel (def) (back injury), Adeleye (def) (doubtful, possible disciplinary actions), Kevin Strootman (mid) (knee injury)
The Verdict
Everything points out to a clear home win with PSV winning their first game 1-5 win on the road to FC Utrecht last Saturday while Sparta struggled at home against ADO Den Haag.
Looking at the previous results between the two teams it clearly shows that PSV is the much better team grabbing fourteen wins in their last fifteen meetings in Eindhoven and winning 1-4 on the road in Rotterdam last season.
With Afellay, Koevermans and either Amrabat or Lazovic up front the firepower of PSV will be too much for the Sparta defense who will miss Van Gessel but will most likely welcome back Promes.
With Adeleye returning from the Olympic games a week later than agreed after winning a silver medal with Nigeria, disciplinary actions will be very much possible for the defender which will not have a very positive effect on the team.
To cut a long story short, everything else than a clear home win will be a huge surprise and therefore my first bet of the season will be PSV to win and clear the handicap of -1.5 goals.
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take PSV EINDHOVEN to win $1.20
