There are just three more games to go in the Eredivisie and the battle to avoid the drop is well and truly on. Six teams are still in with a chance of finishing in 16th, while only four can finish in 17th. We take a look at all five teams and what they need to avoid joining Heracles and dropping down into the Eerste Divisie.
Fortuna Sittard – 36 points
It would be a dramatic turn of events if Fortuna Sittard found themselves in 16th come the end of the season. They have a six point lead on Telstar, so just need a single point to avoid danger. First up for the side is Feyenoord at home, with the Rotterdam club chasing a top two finish. They then have fellow strugglers PEC Zwolle before ending the season away in Utrecht. If they don’t get the point they need this weekend, Fortuna Sittard should confirm Eredivisie survival at home to PEC Zwolle. It would be quite the turnaround if they go into the game against Utrecht in need of points.
PEC Zwolle – 34 points
PEC Zwolle should be confident of securing another year in the Eredivisie. They face relegated Heracles at home this weekend, so pressure will be on the side to secure three points and keep themselves well above the drop zone. A win for PEC Zwolle and a defeat to Telstar should be enough for the side. They also have a comfortable lead over NAC Breda, so automatic relegation from the Eredivisie is off the cards. After facing Fortuna Sittard on the 10th of May, PEC Zwolle welcome Feyenoord for the final match of the season. The club will be confident that they can pick up at least four points from the next two games which should guarantee their Eredivisie survival.
Excelsior – 31 points
While PEC Zwolle and Fortuna Sittard only have an outside chance of relegation from the Eredivisie, Excelsior are well and truly in the dogfight. After promotion from the second tier, the side have managed to grab eight wins this season and sit in 14th. They sit just one point above Telstar, but do have a six point lead over NAC Breda. They face Groningen this weekend, a side chasing a play-off spot. However, a 5-0 victory over FC Utrecht last time out will have given them some confidence. The big game for Excelsior will be the penultimate game against FC Volendam. This relegation six pointer could go a long way to deciding who ends up where. If Excelsior lose to Groningen and Volendam, they open the door to Telstar and even NAC Breda to escape the relegation spots. Excelsior end their season away to Sparta Rotterdam and could need points from this game to ensure survival.
FC Volendam – 31 points
Like Excelsior, Volendam grabbed a crucial three points last time out with a victory over already relegated Heracles. They have, on paper at least, the best chance to avoid the drop. After a home game against Heerenveen this weekend, they face Excelsior away and then Telstar at home. If they win both of these, they will be safe. Lose both, and they could find themselves in the play-offs or, even worse, in the automatic relegation spot.
Telstar – 30 points
Not many expected Telstar to still be in with a chance of survival by this point in the Eredivisie season. The side have a five point lead over NAC Breda and just a point to close to the top sides above them. Like Volendam, their schedule is not bad at all. This weekend they face a tough game against European chasing NEC Nijmegen, but after that they welcome relegated Heracles. That is a game they simply have to win to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation, while also taking advantage of the result between Excelsior and Volendam. By the time they face Volendam on the final match day, they could just need a point to avoid the drop.
NAC Breda – 25 points
NAC Breda look set for a return to the second tier. They have to win all three games and hope that other teams slip up in order to survive. Without playing any of their relegation rivals, they also don’t have a chance to close the gap by taking points off of the teams above them. NAC Breda head to Utrecht this weekend, before welcoming Heerenveen on the 10th of May. Their final match is against cup winners AZ Alkmaar. In reality, NAC Breda need a miracle if they are going to suddenly win three games in a row and avoid the drop.
GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
