Sparta Rotterdam will be looking to continue their late-season push up the Eredivisie table when they play host to FC Twente at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts have been in sensational form over the last couple of months, but have not beaten this opponent in their last 10 attempts dating back to December 2020.
Match preview
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The 2024-25 Eredivisie season has been a tale of two parts for Sparta Rotterdam, who parted ways with Jeroen Rijsdijk at the start of November after managing just two wins in their first 10 games of the campaign.
Maurice Steijn replaced Rijsdijk a few days later but his second stint with the club got off to a terrible start, going eight matches without victory, and by mid-February, the season looked as though it was going to be a write-off, as the team had only managed 20 points in 23 games and were firmly in the relegation scrap.
However, following the February international break, the Red and White Gladiators claimed their biggest win of the season, beating Willem II 4-0 at home, a result which proved to be the turning point in their season, as they have remained unbeaten since then.
After drawing 1-1 against Ajax last week, Sparta have now picked up 15 points from their last seven league games (W4 D3), which has taken them to 10th place in the table and in contention for European qualification for next season.
The hosts' seven matches without defeat is the longest active unbeaten streak in the top flight, while over the last five gameweeks, only Feyenoord (15), Utrecht (13) and PSV (12) have earned more points than them (11).
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Going up against one of the most in-form teams in the league certainly does not bode well for Twente, who, in contrast to their upcoming opponents, have failed to win any of their last five matches since the March international break.
The Tukkers suffered a 3-1 loss to PSV last week and could end this weekend in sixth place if they lose this match, with AZ Alkmaar and Go Ahead Eagles just one point behind them on 47 apiece.
The only positive for Joseph Oosting's side in recent times has been the performance of Sem Steijn, who has scored six goals in his last nine games and looks almost certain to end the season as the league's top scorer, now nine goals clear of Igor Paixao and Troy Parrott.
The visitors have been particularly poor on the road, currently riding an eight-match winless run dating back to the start of December, conceding 18 goals during this period while only scoring 10 themselves.
Team News
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Mohamed Nassoh came off the bench and scored against Ajax last week, and he could be handed a starting role this time around, potentially in place of Joshua Kitolano, who was hooked early in that match.
Kristian Hlynsson was deployed in a deeper role in the last match, but he is likely to return to his usual number 10 role this week, behind Tobias Lauritsen and Mitchell Van Bergen in attack.
For Twente, Ricky van Wolfswinkel has now started the last three games since returning from injury and should continue to lead the line after getting on the scoresheet in the defeat to PSV.
The visitors are expected to be missing at least two players this week due to injury, including Sam Lammers (shoulder) and Taylor Booth (muscle), while Gerald Alders is flagged as a minor doubt.
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Bakari, Young, Eerdhuijzen, Van Aanholt; Zechiel, Nassoh, Mito; Hlynsson; Lauritsen, Van Bergen
FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Van Hoorenbeeck, Lagerbielke, Kuipers; Vlap, Sadílek; Ltaief, Steijn, Unuvar, Van Wolfswinkel
We say: Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 FC Twente
Sparta Rotterdam have been in excellent form over the last two months and enter this match unbeaten in seven league games, while Twente are winless in their last five since the middle of March.
The hosts have also won four of their last five home games (D1), and we feel they will add to that tally with another three points in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
