Defending champions Feyenoord hosted Heerenveen on Saturday looking for a third consecutive win in the league. Arne Slot's side started the season with two draws but have responded by moving up the table, while their opponents lost two consecutive games prior to International Day.
Feyenoord, who won their 16th Dutch League title last season, are unbeaten in their first four games this year - a run that could extend to five on Saturday. However, they have played one more game than their unbeaten challengers - Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven - and Ajax have played three, even though they have five points from a possible nine. That's far from disastrous, but two two draws could leave them three points behind Alkmaar and Eindhoven in a situation where the top teams have maxed out their points in their excellent games.
Slotter's side were unable to get past a determined Fortuna side in their first game of the season at De Kuyper, but beat newcomers Almere City FC 6-1 in their most recent home game. Expected to win consecutive home games for the first time this season - an expected result as they have not been beaten by Heerenveen in five games.
It remains to be seen whether Heerenveen can end their five-game winless streak against the current league champions, but the visitors' point from the same game last season gives them hope. Heerenveen played a goalless draw away from home in August 2022, and a repeat of that result would be welcome for a side who have lost consecutive games to their opponents before the international break. Keith van Wonderen led last season's eighth-placed side to two successive victories, but diluted the early season excitement against the two subsequent defeats. The visitors were sloppy in those two losses, conceding three goals in each game after conceding just one in the first two weeks of the season opener. Van Vonderen's side could overtake last season's champions with a surprise win in Rotterdam, but whether they can pull off a surprise result is anyone's guess.
OUR PREDICTION: Feyenoord 3-1 Heerenveen Even if the table doesn't quite reflect it, Feyenoord are at risk of having to play catch-up this early on, and they should beat Heerenveen by a landslide in De Kuyper, handing the visitors their third consecutive loss.
