VVV Venlo kick off the new Eerste Divisie campaign at the Covebo Stadion – De Koel, a ground where they've historically made life miserable for visitors. The club from Limburg, founded way back in 1903, know how to grind out results in front of their own fans. They're expected to line up in their usual 4-3-3, a shape that gives them width and a high press, but also the balance to sit deeper if needed. Recent form is a blank canvas – it's early doors in the season, so we're reading the tea leaves of squad continuity and home advantage. VVV have a habit of starting strong at De Koel, and with the crowd behind them, they'll feel they can take all three points.

FC Emmen travel south with a 4-2-3-1 that's built to control midfield and hit on the break. They're a stubborn outfit, hard to break down, and they'll be happy to soak up pressure and nick something on the counter. But away from home, Emmen have often been a different beast – less assertive, more reactive. They won't dominate possession here; they'll let VVV have the ball and try to exploit the spaces behind the full-backs. That's a dangerous game to play at De Koel, where the home crowd can turn a tight match into a siege. Momentum is with the hosts – they're the ones with something to prove in front of their own people.