With a top-three finish still within reach, FC Utrecht welcome Sparta Rotterdam to Stadion Galgenwaard on Wednesday in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 Eredivisie campaign.
The Cupfighters currently sit fourth with 62 points from 18 wins, eight draws and six defeats, while their visitors are just one point behind ninth-placed Fortuna Sittard as the battle for a playoff place in the top half intensifies.
Match preview
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Utrecht approach this contest seeking a swift response to their 2-0 defeat at FC Twente last Sunday, a result that brought their five-game unbeaten run to a halt.
That loss in Enschede was just the second the Domstedelingen have suffered since their revival following the March international break, having taken maximum points in six of their nine matches during that spell.
Before that upturn, Ron Jans's men had endured a barren run of six games without victory, drawing four and losing twice, but there appears little risk of slipping back into old habits given their favourable recent history against Wednesday's opponents.
The Cupfighters recorded a 3-1 win in the corresponding fixture last term before dismantling Sparta with a 4-1 triumph in this season's reverse meeting in Rotterdam.
It might not be too much to expect another flurry of goals this time around, with Utrecht having struck at least three times in each of their three outings prior to the Twente defeat — all of which ended in victory.
Their recent home form also provides cause for optimism, with Jans's side enjoying a perfect record from their last three outings at the Galgenwaard, and this purple patch on their turf could not come at a better time as they aim for their highest league finish since third place in 1980-81.
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Meanwhile, Sparta reignited their push for a European playoff berth with a commanding 3-0 victory over bottom-placed Almere City last weekend, halting a two-game winless run in the process.
A dominant second-half showing proved decisive for Maurice Steijn's men, as Mitchell van Bergen opened the scoring just before the hour mark before Mike Eerdhuijzen and Kristian Hlynsson added further gloss to the result.
That victory lifted them to 39 points, and while Sparta remain outside the top nine, their steady climb in the second half of the campaign has kept them within touching distance of their target.
After managing just two wins from their first 17 Eredivisie matches this season — a torrid run that included nine defeats — the Castle Lords have responded admirably, claiming eight victories from their last 15 (D4, L3).
That turnaround has not only steadied the ship but also injected belief into a side that have proven resilient on their travels, having collected 20 points from 16 away fixtures this term.
Sparta are currently enjoying a five-game unbeaten run on the road, with three of those ending in wins, and their strong defensive foundation has played a key role in that streak.
All three victories in that spell came with clean sheets, while they conceded just once in both of the other two matches, including an impressive 1-1 draw away to league leaders Ajax.
Team News
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Utrecht's joint-top scorer in the league, Miguel Rodriguez, who has netted seven times, missed the defeat at Twente due to suspension, but the winger is set to return and bolster the hosts' attacking options.
Borussia Dortmund loanee Sebastien Haller will continue to lead the line, having found the net three times in his last four Eredivisie appearances, although the Ivory Coast forward drew a blank in the most recent outing.
Elsewhere, Oscar Fraulo is expected to operate just ahead of the midfield duo of Alonzo Engwanda and Paxten Aaronson, with the latter enjoying a standout campaign, also tied with Rodriguez on seven league goals.
Can Bozdogan, Zidane Iqbal and Rickson van Hees remain sidelined through injury, while Siebe Horemans is a doubt to feature for a second successive game.
As for the visitors, Carel Eiting remains unavailable for selection, while Patrick van Aanholt could also miss a second consecutive match, meaning Mike Kleijn should keep his place at left-back.
Tobias Lauritsen, who leads Sparta's scoring charts in the league with nine goals, will be eager to rediscover his touch in front of goal after drawing blanks in his last three appearances.
The Norwegian striker is expected to spearhead the attack once more, likely supported by Shunsuke Mito and Van Bergen, the latter full of confidence after getting on the scoresheet last time out.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; Vesterlund, Van der Hoorn, Viergever, El Karouani; Aaronson, Engwanda; Fraulo; Rodriguez, Haller, Jonathans
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Bakari, Young, Eerdhuijzen, Kleijn; Kitolano, Zechiel, Hlynsson; Mito, Lauritsen, Van Bergen
We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam
This encounter has all the makings of a tightly fought contest, with Utrecht buoyed by their strong form on their own turf, while Sparta arrive looking to make their recent away run count.
That said, although the visitors have shown defensive discipline on their travels of late, the hosts possess the firepower to break them down, having scored 61 goals in the league — the fourth-best return in the division — and that quality in the final third could prove decisive in edging a narrow victory for the home team.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
