The exciting denouement of the Kitchen Champion Division is scheduled for Friday evening. After a crazy final phase last Friday, FC Groningen and Roda JC will compete in a mutual match for the second direct ticket to the Eredivisie. But there is much more at stake in the all-decisive final round. ESPN lists all scenarios.
Championship
Whatever Willem II does in the last match of the season against Telstar, the Tilburg team will be on the Heuvel on Sunday afternoon with the promotion shield. Last round they scored the equalizer against FC Dordrecht in injury time, which means they have already won promotion. But can the people of Tilburg also take the bowl with them to the ceremony?
Willem II starts the match against Telstar with a one-point lead over Roda JC. Peter Maes’ men have the championship in their own hands and only need to win against number 17. In the event of a draw or defeat, the course of the match between FC Groningen and Roda must be watched with great interest. If the Koempels win themselves, they are the champions. If Roda draws and Willem II loses by four goals or more, the Koempels are still champions.
The Willem II championship match can be seen LIVE from 8:00 PM on ESPN 2.
Promotion
The players of Roda JC have other things on their minds than the championship. After the match against SC Cambuur, they thought for five minutes that promotion was already a fact. The stadium speaker announced that Telstar had made it 2-1 against FC Groningen and that meant that Roda would have a four-point lead, which could no longer be made up. But that turned out to be a mistake, because Telstar had not scored at all. The difference between Groningen and Roda is now three points.
The only assignment that Bas Sibum’s men receive in Groningen is not to lose. And for Dick Lukkien’s team, only a win is enough for direct promotion. Both teams therefore have a clear assignment, but the main question is how the Koempels processed the disappointment of the previous round.
You can watch the direct promotion match between FC Groningen and Roda JC LIVE on STAR Channel and ESPN Watch from 8:00 PM. STAR Channel can be seen on channel 11 at Ziggo, channel 16 at KPN and Odido, and finally on Delta on channel 13.
Last two play-off tickets
Not only the battle for direct promotion, but also the battle for the last two play-off tickets has not yet been won. Roda JC or FC Groningen, FC Dordrecht, ADO Den Haag and De Graafschap are already assured of a place in the play-offs for promotion/relegation. There are still two tickets available for NAC Breda, FC Emmen and MVV Maastricht and all three have a great chance.
NAC Breda has the advantage with 55 points, but is closely followed by FC Emmen with 54 and MVV Maastricht with 53 points. NAC visits fellow provincial and low-flyer TOP Oss. In principle, one point is enough for the people of Breda. Then they have secured the play-offs, but seventh place is still uncertain. That place results in a diptych against FC Dordrecht in the first round of the play-offs and they would rather meet them than Roda or Groningen.
FC Emmen, which was relegated last season, showed at the start of the competition that it simply belongs in the Eredivisie. But from December onwards the people of Emmen lost it completely. For example, they failed to win ten games in a row and made a free fall in the rankings to place 13. Fred Grim was dismissed and under Alfons Arts, Emmen has risen again to a place that entitles them to play-offs. However, on paper the people of Emmen have the most difficult match of the three contenders. They will meet De Graafschap at home, which is already assured of the play-offs.
If Emmen manages to win, it will be certain of the play-offs and will have to hope for a loss of points from NAC for seventh place. In the event of a draw or loss to the people of Emmen themselves, MVV can win over Emmen. Then the people of Drenthe will have to play at the second level of the Netherlands for another year anyway.
The last contender is MVV Maastricht. The people of Maastricht have a derby on the program as the final match. At home they will meet the volatile VVV-Venlo. MVV has to get points themselves to have a chance at the play-offs. With a win, the Maastrichters can still beat NAC and Emmen, depending on the results of both teams. If MVV draws, it must hope for a victory for De Graafschap at Emmen. In terms of points, Emmen and MVV are on the same level, but the Maastrichters have a better goal difference.
But there is still an opportunity for MVV to get a ticket for the play-offs. Maurice Verberne’s men are in fifth place in the fourth period, with a two-point gap on number two FC Groningen. The leader is Roda JC and already has a previous period title, which means that the ticket for the play-offs passes to the number two. For this to become a reality, FC Groningen must not score any points at all and Willem II and FC Dordrecht must not win.
Virtual play-off schedule
After the last round, all tickets have been distributed and it is time for the promotion/relegation play-offs. Below is an overview of the virtual schedule. A number of clubs have already been booked. For example, FC Dordrecht is already certain of fourth place and De Graafschap and ADO are also certain that they will play against each other, but it can still change who plays the first match at home. Who will join these three teams and prepare for the always surprising play-offs?
You can see the exciting denouement of the Kitchen Champion Division LIVE on ESPN. Friday evening starts with Football on Friday from 7:15 PM, where all matches are played in the bridging program from 8:00 PM. You can watch the direct promotion match between FC Groningen and Roda JC LIVE on STAR Channel from 8:00 PM. STAR Channel can be seen on channel 11 at Ziggo, channel 16 at KPN and Odido, and finally on Delta on channel 13.
