FC Utrecht vs Heerenveen Prediction & Match Preview

Steffen Schmidt - August 18, 2023

FC Utrecht vs Heerenveen
Dutch Eredivisie
Date: 20 August 2023, Sunday
Kick-off at 11:15 UK / 12:15 CET
Venue: Stadion Galgenwaard (Utrecht).

FC Utrecht host Heerenveen in the first game of Sunday’s Eredivisie schedule as they search for the maiden points and goals of the season in Gameweek No 2.

The two outfits finished the previous Eredivisie term right next to each other, just inside the top-eight places in the standings.

They’ve both been eliminated in the Dutch UEFA Conference League semifinal playoffs, falling to Twente and Sparta Rotterdam respectively.

FC Utrecht started the 2023/24 campaign with an expected defeat in Eindhoven, losing 2-0 to PSV last Saturday.

They generally had a decent preseason run that concluded with a phenomenal performance in a 3-0 drubbing of Spanish Espanyol earlier this month.

Knowing also about their fine home record in the previous term of Dutch top flight, we have plenty of reasons to expect them to bounce back here against Heerenveen.

As for the visitors, they offered a fantastic first-half showing in the 3-1 victory over RKC Waalwijk on the opening day.

Three different men added their names on the scoresheet for Cornelis van Wonderen’s team eight days ago.

Interestingly, such a brilliant attacking display in the first 45 minutes of the season opener came after back-to-back dismal showings and two separate 0-1 defeats in the exhibitions against Huddersfield Town and Metz.

FC Utrecht vs Heerenveen Head-to-head

• FC Utrecht have been the dominant side in recent head to head history with five wins on the spin against Heerenveen ahead of Sunday’s clash at Stadion Galgenwaard.
• Interestingly, each of these five victories has come by a single-goal margin, three times with a 2-1 scoreline.
• FC Utrecht generally have a solid home record in this matchup with 18 wins, 9 draws, and just 7 defeats in the last 34 clashes against Heerenveen at Stadion Galgenwaard.

FC Utrecht vs Heerenveen Prediction

FC Utrecht have dominated this matchup in the last several years and we expect them to rebound from the opening round’s defeat to PSV Eindhoven and pick up their inaugural win of the campaign on the back of a strong preseason run.

The home win is paid at the 1.75 odds. Alternatively, we like the Under 2.5 goals FT pick because of the value at the 2.20 odds knowing that two of the last three H2H affairs between these rivals finished with fewer than two goals scored.

FC Utrecht vs Heerenveen Betting Tips

• FC Utrecht to win @ 1.75 (3/4)

• Under 2.5 goals FT @ 2.20 (6/5) odd.

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