RKC Waalwijk welcome Sparta Rotterdam to the Mandemakers Stadion in gameweek eight of the 2022-23 Eredivisie campaign on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh off the back of returning to winning ways last time out, the teams head into the encounter on a high, and that should make for an exciting watch.
Match preview
Sparta Rotterdam made it back to back wins in front of their fans with a narrow 2-1 victory at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel two Saturdays ago.
Maurice Steijn's men fell behind to Ricardo Pepi's opener just past the hour mark before hitting back through strikes from Sven Mijnans and Vito van Crooy.
Having picked up nine points from the last 12 available, De Rood-Witte Gladiatoren have now moved up to seventh place in the league table.
Coming up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have only recorded one triumph in the last nine encounters between the teams since 2018.
Off the back of a first away defeat of the season in their last away outing, Sunday's visitors set out to avoid consecutive losses on the road for the first time in five months.
Waalwijk were victorious on home turf for the second game running thanks to a comprehensive 5-1 victory over SC Cambuur on September 17.
After going behind to Jamie Jacobs's opener, Joseph Oosting's men drew level through Michiel Kramer after which strikes from Zakaria Bakkali, Iliass Bel Hassani, Kramer and a Marco Tol own goal completed a spectacular turnaround.
As a result, RKC have moved up to eighth in the Eredivisie, one point and one place behind their next opponents ahead of this weekend's meeting.
With 10 goals scored in their last two home matches, Sunday's visitors will be looking to put on another attacking masterclass in front of an expectant home crowd.
Team News
Michiel Kramer has netted three times in his last two home matches for Waalwijk and will be aiming to come up with the goods once again.
Having come off the bench to open his account for the season last time out, Zakaria Bakkali could be rewarded with a place in the starting XI here.
Tim Coremans will not play any part for Sparta Rotterdam this weekend as he continues to battle with a shoulder problem which has kept him out since July.
With four goals and an assist so far, Vito van Crooy has been directly involved in five of his side's nine goals, making the 26-year-old one to keep an eye on.
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Lutonda, Van den Buijs, Adewoye, Gaari, Lelieveld; Clement, Anita, Bel Hassani; Kramer, Lobete
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Schoonerwaldt; Micha, Auassar, Vriends, Sambo; Kitolano, Mijnans, De Guzman; Van Crooy, Lauritsen, Saito
We say: RKC Waalwijk 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Following poor starts to the current campaign, the teams have turned a corner in recent weeks and will be feeling good about themselves heading into this one. We are anticipating a fairly even match with the home side narrowly edging out their visitors in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
