Preview: Heerenveen vs. Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

Sparta Rotterdam visit the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Saturday aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat when they lock horns with Heerenveen.

The home side, on the other hand, go in search of a third win in four games in their quest to continue climbing up the Eredivisie table.

Match preview

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Sparta were beaten for the third league match following a 3-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion on Tuesday.

Henk Fraser's men took the lead in the 19th minute courtesy of Adil Auassar before quickfire goals from Jesper Karlsson and a Vangelis Pavlidis second-half strike turned the game on its head.

De Kasteelheren are 16th on the log as things stand, four points adrift of safety and in need of a pick-me-up.

Next up for them is a clash versus an opposing side who they have beaten just once in the last six meetings between the teams dating back to 2017.

However, that solitary victory came in the most recent encounter back in May, when Saturday's visitors claimed a 2-1 triumph.

Off the back of consecutive home games, Heerenveen saw off the threat of Heracles in a narrow 1-0 victory at the Erve Asito on Saturday.

Joey Veerman's opener 11 minutes from time was enough to hand Johnny Jansen's men all three points in Almelo.

As a result, the Super Frisians have moved up to ninth place in the standings and are just three points off the European places.

Saturday's hosts, who held PSV Eindhoven to a 1-1 draw in their last outing on home turf, will be confident of picking up another positive result this weekend.

Team News

First-choice goalkeeper Erwin Mulder has not played in three months due to a finger injury, while Pawel Bochniewicz continues to battle with a knee injury.

The duo of Siem de Jong and Arjen van der Heide remain sidelined with muscle injuries and will play no part in this weekend's clash.

Bart Vriends is a doubt for the game after he was forced off with an injury seven minutes shy of half time in his side's last outing.

Sven Mijnans was Vriends' replacement on the day, and the 21-year-old is expected to get the nod should his Dutch teammate be deemed unfit to participate.

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Mous; Van Beek, Bakker, Kaib, Van Ewijk; J.Veerman, Madsen, Kongolo; Halilovic, H.Veerman, Stevanovic

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Van Leer; Masouras, Beugelsdijk, Vriends, Pinto; Abels, Mijnans, Smeets; Auassar, Emegha, Thy

We say: Heerenveen 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam

Heerenveen seem to have turned a corner in recent weeks while Sparta have been abysmal of late. We fancy the home side to get the job done come the sound of the final whistle.

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