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

With both sides aiming to record a first victory in four games, Fortuna Sittard and Sparta Rotterdam lock horns at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Saturday.

Revenge is on the agenda for the home side off the back of a 3-1 loss in September's reverse fixture against their visitors.

Match preview

© Reuters

Sparta Rotterdam fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against league leaders Ajax on Saturday when the teams faced off at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

Henk Fraser's men took a surprise lead in the first half through Joeri de Kamps before goals from Davy Klaassen and Dusan Tadic turned the game on its head.

De Kasteelheren continue to languish at the foot of the Eredivisie table, but they remain just one point adrift of safety with a game in hand.

Their next task comes against an opposing outfit who have been dismal in recent meetings between the sides, winning just one of the last nine encounters.

Having failed to win any of their last seven outings away from home, Saturday's visitors will need to get going on the road to stand a chance of beating the drop.

Fortuna Sittard snapped a two-game losing streak with a 1-1 stalemate versus Utrecht on Friday at the Stadion Galgenwaard.

Sjors Ultee's men went behind early on to Bart Ramselaar's opener before restoring through Zian Flemming just past the hour mark.

Consequently, the Fortunezen are outside the relegation zone as it stands, albeit only on goal difference as the season enters into its final lap.

Saturday's hosts have let in 26 goals on their own turf - second only to Cambuur in the entire division - and will be wary of being picked apart in front of their fans once again.

Team News

Roel Janssen has missed the last six games due to a knee injury, and the 31-year-old is unavailable for Saturday's contest.

Sittard will also have to make do with the absence of Ryan Johansson, who is currently nursing a muscle problem.

Ben Rienstra had to be hauled off 27 minutes into his side's last outing, making him a huge doubt for this one.

Joeri de Kamps, Tom Beugelsdijk and Vito van Crooy will need to tread with caution, with the trio all sitting one yellow card away from a one-game suspension.

Sven Mijnans was instrumental for Sparta en route to their victory in the reverse fixture, and the midfielder will be looking to deliver the goods once again.

Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:

Van Osch; Cox, Siovas, Angha, Tirpan; Duarte, Tekie; Seuntjens, Flemming, Noslin, Benschop

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Pinto, Auassar, Vriends, Abels, Jans; Van Crooy, De Kamps, Van Mullem, Verschueren; Engels

We say: Fortuna Sittard 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam

Both sides know that a defeat here would deal a huge blow to their survival hopes, so we expect a nervy and cagey affair. We are also backing a draw at the end of the 90 minutes with the teams settling for a point apiece.