Heerenveen vs Ajax August 23, 2013

Tweet

Team news and match details team line ups:
an Basten made his name in Amsterdam, scoring nearly a goal a game in a prolific six-year spell which made him one of the most feared strikers in the history of the game.

He returned to Ajax as manager in 2008 but was in charge for just a single season as the club failed to make the UEFA Champions League and moved to Heerenveen in February last year.

His current charges are level with the champion in the embryonic Eredivisie table with both sides having two wins from the opening three games but Van Basten insists it is the size of the club, and not his personal history, which gives this clash some extra spice.

“These clubs make you a bit nervous,” he told Heerenveen offical website.

“Ajax is special. There is much media attention off the field. The competition is fierce for both the players and the fans.”

But Van Basten is refusing to be intimidated by the task at hand and believes his team can be better when it is on the back foot.

“We are stronger when the opponent has the initiative,” he said. “Our strength lies in the counter-attack.

“Ajax plays a dominant style and usually has the upper hand. Ajax are technically more skilled and tactically strong.

“It is a difficult job.”

On Saturday (Sunday AEST) PSV Eindhoven will look to maintain its 100 per cent start as it travels to Heracles.

PSV has won its previous two league matches 5-0 and 3-0 and comes into the match at the Polman Stadion on the back of an impressive 1-1 draw with AC Milan in the Champions League.

The only other club with a perfect record this season is also in action on Saturday (Sunday AEST) as PEC Zwolle takes on newly-promoted Cambuur.

PEC has surprised many with its bright start to the season but takes on a Cambuur side high in confidence following a 4-1 win over Groningen last weekend.

In Saturday’s (Sunday AEST) other games, NEC takes on RKC Waalwijk while Roda JC travels to ADO Den Haag.

Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman will be hoping his side will not be travel weary as it takes on NAC Breda on Sunday (Monday AEST).

The Rotterdam side has just two days recovery from its trip to Russia to face Kuban Krasnodar in the Europa League as it looks for its first league win of the season.

But despite a pointless start to the campaign, Koeman believes he has seen enough progress to be optimistic.

“Last Sunday against Ajax I saw a lot of spirit in the team,” he told a press conference. “Although it’s clear that we can and have to play better.”

In Sunday’s (Monday AEST) remaining games, Go Ahead Eagles hosts Groningen, FC Twente travels to Vitesse Arnhem and Utrecht takes on AZ Alkmaar.

Monaco vs Toulouse August 23, 2013

Tweet

Toulouse travel to the Stade Louis II Stadium to play Monaco this Friday evening where Monaco will be aiming to make it 3 wins from 3 matches in France Ligue 1.

Monaco started their season away to Bordeaux where they managed to win 2:0 – they followed that victory up with an impressive 4:1 win at home against Montpellier.
Toulouse lost 3:0 to Valenciennes in their opening game and managed to draw 1:1 with Bordeaux last time out.

Monaco entered the season in a best possible way as they earned two victories at the start of the season and are coming from a great 4:1 victory over Montpellier last weekend, now trying to get another three pointer and take over the first position in the league after three rounds.
The last 5 meetings between these two sides finished 0:2, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0 and 3:2.

Although it is still very early in the season, Monaco are joint top while Toulouse are 19th.
Monaco were promoted from Ligue 2 last season where they managed to score 64 goals in 38 matches and conceded just 33.
Toulouse finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season – they scored 49 goals in 38 matches and conceded 47.
Monaco have spent over £100 million during the transfer window bringing in world class players such as João Moutinho and James Rodríguez from FC Porto and most notably Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid.

Toulouse spent less than £10 million during the transfer window and lost one of their most influential players, Étienne Capoue to Tottenham.
Ultimately Monaco should win this match comfortably given their much improved squad and their impressive defensive record from last season (conceded 33 goals in 38 matches).

Toulouse generally score as many as they concede and this will be their biggest problem when facing a Monaco side who pose a massive goal threat while maintaining a solid back line.
From a betting perspective over 2.5 goals at odds of 17/20 appears to offer value – French matches are generally low-scoring but Monaco do have Falcao, Moutinho and Rodríguez who are sure to have chances during the game.

However, their start of the season isn’t a surprising one, as their owner spent a lot of this Summer, trying to improve the squad and be one of the candidates for the title at the end of the season. Their biggest signing was Falcao who played well at the start of the season, but is still to show his best. However, it seems that their defensive lineup still needs time to start playing fluently, as Montpellier had a lot of goalscoring opportunities and made many troubles to their defense. However, they only struggled during the first half, while they showed great offensive superiority in the second adding two more goals, while the exclusion of visitors’ player in 65th minute helped them a lot. Offensive midfielder Dirar is injured from the start of the season, same as striker/winger Barazite, but neither of them is important absentee with so rich and deep roster.