On Tuesday and Wednesday, the two finalists will be determined in the Dutch KNVB Beker – the cup competition. Regardless of the outcome of the first semi-final between Vitesse Arnhem and Venlo, hardly anyone would have expected this finalist before the season. The underdog duel offers a huge opportunity for both clubs.
Although two teams hardly anyone expected to meet at the Gelredome stadium in Arnhem, there is a clear favourite. In the odds comparison on our site you can only find odds of around 1.50 on the home side for the match between Vitesse Arnhem and Venlo.
This clear favorite role is understandable in view of their position in the current Eredivisie table. The home side are playing an outstanding season and are currently in fourth place, while Venlo are in 15th place and fighting to stay in the league. The match in the first semi-final will start on Tuesday evening at 9 pm.
Prediction & Live Odds – Vitesse Arnhem – Venlo Netherlands KNVB Beker
In the first cup semi-final, both teams will have to put last weekend’s game out of their minds. It is a new game, which again starts at 0:0. Without the necessary attitude, the hosts will not be able to repeat the victory. However, given the way the season has gone so far, Vitesse Arnhem vs Venlo is an obvious bet for a home win.
Even without the big names in the squad, Vitesse Arnhem is playing an impressive season and impresses above all with high counter-pressing and enormous discipline, thanks to which they concede only a few goals.
In the forward play, Vitesse is extremely varied and, unlike Venlo, cannot be reduced to just one person. Although the cup often has its own laws, the best prediction for Vitesse Arnhem vs. Venlo seems to be another handicap (-1,5) win for the host.
Vitesse Arnhem – Statistics & Current Form
In recent years, Vitesse Arnhem have been able to establish themselves in the top half of the table, finishing in single figures uninterruptedly since the 2011/12 season. Despite finishing seventh in the shortened 2019/20 season, this season began with a new coach. German Thomas Letsch (with Austria Wien until March 2019) was introduced as the new coach.
Best season in almost a decade
It was an absolute stroke of luck for the club, because under Letsch the club has taken another big step forward. After 24 games, Vitesse have a strong 45 points on their books, the last time the club had this amount of points was in the 2012/13 season. At the same time last season, Vitesse had seven points less.
Thanks to the outstanding performances in the league, Letsch’s team still has two realistic chances to win a ticket for the Europa League and the associated international return. Especially the home strength should encourage the fans, because in the current Eredivisie season Vitesse Arnhem won nine of the twelve home games, the only defeat conceded the Letsch eleven almost a fortnight ago against Twente Enschede.
Negative run ended in time
The 0:2 home defeat against Twente Enschede came in the middle of the first weak phase of the season, which was only shaken off impressively last Saturday.
Before the 4:1 home victory – against cup opponents Venlo, of all teams – Letsch’s team had gone without a win five times in a row (four defeats, one draw). Before that, Vitesse had just three defeats in the whole season.
The home strength as a plus point has already been mentioned, and this is underlined by the very strong defence, as goalkeeper Remko Pasveer has conceded only seven goals in twelve home games. Therefore, the betting on Vitesse Arnhem vs. Venlo is that not both teams will score.
Predicted line-up of Vitesse Arnhem:
Pasveer – Rasmsussen, Doekhi, Bazoer, Wittek, Dasa – Tronstad, Bero, Tannane – Broja, Openda
Venlo – Statistics & Current Form
The city of Venlo lies directly on the German border. Accordingly, there have always been German players who tried their luck at the Eredivisie club in the past. The current squad also includes several German players who can still dream of reaching the final.
In the semi-finals for the first time in 33 years
VVV Venlo achieved the greatest success in the club’s history in the 1958/59 season when they won the cup and are now dreaming of repeating that triumph. The 2-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen in the quarter-finals puts Venlo in the final round of the KNVB Beker for the first time in 33 years.
For head coach Hans de Koning, a place in the final would be a wonderful conclusion, as his contract, which expires at the end of the season, will not be renewed. De Koning would like to have planning security, which the club cannot (or does not want to) give him at the moment. Accordingly, they will part ways in the summer.
Four defeats in a row – 14 goals conceded
Recently, the team has not exactly been able to advertise for the head coach, because the brief interim high (13 points in five games) has long been forgotten. In the last four league games, relegation-threatened Venlo failed to win a point.
The cup semi-finalists conceded at least three goals in each of these four games, and conceded a total of 14 goals. The defence has been a major problem area for the yellow and black team, and not just since the incredible 0:13 defeat against Ajax Amsterdam in October. Venlo have conceded no less than 60 goals in 23 league games.
That’s why bets on a lot of goals are always a good idea for games involving VVV Venlo. Therefore, our value bet on Vitesse Arnhem against Venlo is on more than 3 goals at ComeOn, the bookmaker we tested.
Venlo not only have problems with their defence, but also have a very strong attack thanks to the Greek striker Georgios Giakoumakis. The 26-year-old newcomer has already scored 23 goals in 23 games and is the leading scorer in the Eredivisie.
Projected line-up of Venlo:
Kirschbaum – Schäfer, da Graca, Gelmi, Pachonik – Donis, Machach, Post – Hunte, Giakoumakis, Shabani
