European-chasing Sparta Rotterdam welcome Vitesse to Het Kasteel on Saturday night for an intriguing Eredivisie clash.
The visitors come into the encounter with relegation fears again following a poor run of form.
Match preview
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Sparta returned to winning ways last weekend, comfortably dispatching Excelsior 4-1 on the road.
It was a much-needed result after bruising 3-0 and 4-0 defeats to Utrecht at home, and away to Ajax, respectively.
They were their first defeats in the league since mid-October, also against Utrecht, as Sparta went on a 10-game unbeaten run which catapulted them up the standings and into European contention.
Their recent win means Maurice Steijn's side have now opened up at eight-point gap to RKC Waalwijk who sit just outside the playoff positions.
Apart from a brief stint in the Intertoto Cup in 1994, Sparta have not played in a UEFA competition proper since a UEFA Cup appearance in 1985.
The Eredivisie is only allocated four European places now, though, after slipping down the coefficient rankings, making the task a little more arduous for Sparta.
A four-team playoff involving the sides who finish between fourth and seventh decides who takes the final Europa Conference League spot, and Ajax and PSV Eindhoven could find themselves in it after underwhelming seasons.
Vitesse have other pressing matters on their plate currently, and gaining revenge for a 4-0 thrashing at home in the reverse fixture will be top of the agenda.
The side from Arnhem are looking to arrest a three-game losing run which has seen them slip towards relegation trouble once again.
A damaging defeat to lowly Volendam was followed up by back-to-back home losses against AZ Alkmaar and Ajax, leaving them just five points clear of danger.
Vitesse initially moved themselves away from the imminent threat of relegation after losing just one out of nine games after their hammering at the hands of Sparta in October, and that was away to PSV, but they have since began to slide back towards the dotted line again.
Only Cambuur have picked up fewer points at home this season, so Phillip Cocu and his side may be glad to be playing away from the GelreDome this weekend.
Team News
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Sparta captain Adil Auassar is still suspended after his straight red card in the heavy home defeat to Utrecht two weeks ago.
Mike Eerdhuijzen replaced him in the lineup for the clash with Excelsior and is likely to keep his place after the resounding win.
January's Eredivisie Player of the Month Nick Olij will start in goal once more for the hosts, while the influential Vito van Crooij has become undroppable, given his eight goals and eight assists this season.
Davy Propper is set to miss out again for Vitesse, as the former Netherlands international has a knee injury.
Defender Nicolas Isimat-Mirin is doubtful after going off inside 20 minutes last week, so youngster Ryan Flamingo could be the man to come in and deputise for the Frenchman.
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Sambo, Vriends, Eerdhuijzen, Pinto; Kitolano, De Guzman, Van Crooij, Verschueren, Saito; Lauritsen
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Arcus, Oroz, Flamingo, Wittek; Meulensteen, Tronstad, Van Ginkel; Kozlowski, Manhoef, Bero
We say: Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 Vitesse
Sparta will have renewed confidence after their big win last week, while Vitesse are in the middle of a rut and could fall even further down the standings this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
