Heerenveen have functioning connections through the middle and from wide areas against Feyenoord's advancing shape. Elche and Betis present a different contest, with home circulation meeting pressure and quick attacking releases. Both matches put the quality of the next receiver at the centre of the analysis.
Heerenveen's Smans supplied Vente against NEC, while Rivera found Trenskow twice against Den Haag. Those routes can reach the space behind Feyenoord's midfield, where runner tracking remained unresolved against Sittard. Smans has regained a productive starting role, Proper has already returned to match action, and current reporting describes a fit home squad. Watanabe also played the Sittard match, so his expected starting return restores experience within that existing comparison.
I expect Heerenveen to keep finding forward connections through the later phases, with Meerveld and Proper offering midfield alternatives. That's why I'm siding with Heerenveen to keep the contest close.
At Elche, the important distinction is between keeping possession and turning it into good finishing positions. Betis retain Abde's turnover-to-Ruibal connection and a separate route through Isco's delivery and Fornals arriving for the next ball. Lemar is confirmed absent after leaving the Valencia match injured, while Villar's fitness remains unresolved after playing the full match.
Betis are already operating without Cucho, and several central suppliers had short or no European minutes. That gives their pressure and combination play a more refreshed base than the team schedule alone suggests. I expect those alternative routes to become increasingly useful as the match develops. That's why I'm siding with Betis, with a level finish protected.
