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

Groningen play host to Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday looking to stem the current tide that has seen them lose three of their last four matches.

Meanwhile, the visitors returned to winning ways last time out, and they have only lost one of their last seven matches.

Match preview

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Sparta Rotterdam made it three home victories on the spin with a 2-0 victory over VVV-Venlo at the Het Kasteel on Saturday.

Laros Duarte and Bryan Smeets scored in either half to hand Henk Fraser's men their 10th Eredivisie triumph of the season.

De Kasteelheren moved into 11th place on the log courtesy of that win, and they are level on points with ninth-placed Twente in the race for a top-half finish.

Up next for Saturday's visitors is a trip to a ground where they have struggled in recent meetings against their hosts.

Since 2015, Sparta have only won one of five away games against Saturday's opponents, which was a narrow 1-0 victory in a friendly.

Groningen suffered yet another setback away from home as they were beaten 1-0 by PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion on Saturday.

In a game where the hosts had a number of goals disallowed by VAR, Eran Zahavi's penalty just after the hour mark was enough to settle the contest.

Danny Buijs's men are still on course to qualify for Europe next season with their lead over eighth-placed Heracles still at seven points.

The Green-White Army have their frugal defence to thank for their exploits this season, taking into consideration the fact that they have scored the fewest number of goals of any team in the top 13.

Team News

The visitors will have to cope with the absence of Tim Coremans, who has missed the last nine months of action due to a shoulder problem.

Lennart Thy was on target for Sparta in the reverse fixture, and he will be looking to add to his tally of 12 Eredivisie goals which is his best-ever return.

Bart van Hintum missed Groningen's loss to PSV last time out due to a knock which is set to keep him out of Sunday's game as well.

In the aforementioned game, Alessio Da Cruz was hauled off in the opening 30 minuted due to an injury, so his involvement in this weekend's game is still uncertain.

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Padt; Dammers, Itakura, Te Wierik, Dankerlui; Schreck, Van Kaam; Suslov, El Hankouri, Gudmundsson; Strand Larsen

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Abels, Heylen, Beugelsdijk, Fortes; Auassar, Burger, Smeets; Duarte, Mijnans, Thy

We say: Groningen 1-0 Sparta Rotterdam

Groningen have shown that they have the ability to grind out wins without necessarily being an attacking force. We anticipate a cagey affair in this one, with the hosts coming out victorious by the odd goal.