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

PEC Zwolle play host to Sparta Rotterdam on Wednesday evening, still searching for their first point of the new Eredivisie season.

Sparta have also endured an indifferent opening to the campaign, collecting just five points from as many fixtures.

Match preview

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After going through the opening three matches without a win to their name and conceding seven goals in the process, Sparta needed a strong response after the international break.

Henk Fraser and the club's supporters have received just that, De Kasteelheren following a 3-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard with a 1-1 draw against NEC Nijmegen.

While Sparta still sit in 14th position in the table, there is now just a three-point gap to sixth-placed FC Utrecht.

Sven Mijnans has emerged as the club's star man over the past two games with the 21-year-old contributing one goal and two assists.

However, Sparta have now gone seven matches without keeping a clean sheet, a record which extends all the way back to May 13.

Opponents Zwolle have conceded two goals fewer than the visitors, an impressive return when considering that they have already faced free-scoring Ajax.

Nevertheless, not shipping more than two goals in a game this season will continue to mean nothing unless they can get on the scoresheet at the other end.

Forward Slobodan Tedic has failed to net in 412 minutes, but Art Langeler will insist that his entire squad should share responsibility for their current plight.

Despite their recent setbacks, Zwolle will move to within two points of Sparta if they can get a win on the board on Wednesday.

Team News

Dean Huiberts and Daishawan Redan are both pushing for opportunities in the Zwolle starting lineup.

Kenneth Paal and Elikia Mbinga appear most likely to drop out of the team, while Gervane Kastaneer is another option in the final third after three successive outings from the substitutes bench.

Zwolle must still make do without the trio of Pelle Clement, Sai van Wermeskerken and Mustafa Saymak.

Eighteen-year-old Emanuel Emegha could come into the Sparta starting lineup after impressing since the international break.

A start for the teenager would likely see Lennart Thy drop deeper, with Mario Engels also in contention for a chance in a creative role.

PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:

Lamprou; Polen, Kersten, Voet, Nakayama; Strieder, Belt; Redan, Huiberts, Reijnders; Tedic

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Abels, Heylen, Vriends, Pinto; Auassar, Osman; Mijnans, Thy, Crooij; Emegha

We say: PEC Zwolle 1-2 Sparta Rotterdam

We feel that Wednesday evening could be the time where Zwolle finally get on the scoresheet. However, Sparta appear to be trending upwardly, and that is enough for us to predict an away win for the visitors by the odd goal in three.