A fraught derby today. Willem II away. Always a rivalry. Especially today because Willem II is in second place and they are proud of that and rightly so and we also want to move up and qualify for the champions league.
We start driven and are fierce. It's a match with battle on mentality and fighting spirit. Now that we can show today that we can also handle this kind of match and also win. Also with an eye on next Tuesday against Fc Rostov.
We are on top but it takes a little more than half an hour before we open the score. Joel manages to finish off a measured cross brilliantly and put us ahead. Earlier in the game we had already failed to take the lead but the awarded penalty was unfortunately not used.
Shortly after the goal it was the goalkeeper who really wanted to give us a helping hand because with an unparalleled action by him and the good interference of Matthias it was Joell again who let the net bulge. Half-time score 0-2.
We know for sure that after the break Willem II will want to fight back but, as in the first half, their sights are not quite clear and if not, there is always our last line to solve the problem. We don't really come under pressure and we play the game out very professionally. The points quickly go into the warm bus. In the standings we are now third and placement in the championship pool is almost certain. Theoretically it could still go wrong but then all the other teams would have to win their last games and we would have to lose everything. And mathematically we know that not everyone will win all their games. But just to be sure, let's go for it on Saturday against Roda.
But first on Tuesday against FC Rostov to secure placement in the knockout phase of the Youth League.
Good luck and see you on Tuesday.
And we know: success begins where others stop and you persevere.
Bye-bye.

van de Meulenhof, Teze, Soulas, Obispo, Carolina, Rigo, Verreth (88th Kun), Fernandes , Piroe (81st Scamacca), Lonwijk (66th Sadilek), Daneels (85th Gakpo).