Round 22 of the 2023-24 Eredivisie campaign sees Sparta Rotterdam and SBV Excelsior lock horns at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Saturday.
The away side have the opportunity to complete a league double over their hosts having claimed a 2-1 victory in this season's reverse fixture.
Match preview
Sparta Rotterdam were beaten for the second game running in a 2-0 defeat against leaders Feyenoord in Sunday's meeting at De Kuip.
Off the back of a relatively drab opening 45 minutes, second-half goals from David Hancko and Lutsharel Geertruida put Jeroen Rijsdijk's men to the sword.
Consequently, De Kasteelheren have dropped down to 10th in the Eredivisie table, albeit only one point behind the last Conference League playoff spot.
Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams over the last seven meetings, which have yielded three wins apiece and one stalemate.
Winless in six straight home matches either side of the new year, Saturday's hosts will need to turn things around in front of their fans.
SBV Excelsior came away empty-handed from their meeting against FC Twente on Saturday, which ended in a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion.
Marinus Dijkhuizen's men made a slow start to the contest and were made to pay as they conceded a second-minute opener to Daan Rots, after which Ricky Van Wolfswinkel added a brace.
With 21 points amassed from as many games this term, De Roodzwarten currently sit 15th in the standings, three points clear of relegation danger.
Winless on the road in league matches since September, Saturday's visitors have work to do at both ends of the pitch if they are to come away with maximum points this weekend.
Team News
Tijs Velthuis has missed each of Sparta's last three matches due to a muscle problem and will not play any part in this weekend's affair.
Koki Saito has led the line in two straight matches since returning from injury, and the Japanese is expected to lead the line for the hosts in this one.
Forward Raphael Eyongo remains out of contention for Excelsior as he continues to battle with an ankle injury which he picked up in a pre-season friendly back in July.
Lennard Hartjes also misses out for the away side through a knee problem, but the 20-year-old is drawing increasingly closer to a comeback.
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Warmerdam, Eerdhuijzen, Meissen, Bakari; Kitolano, Clement; Brym, Verschueren, Mito; Saito
SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Van Gassel; Zagre, Pierie, Widell, El Yaakoubi, Horemans; Driouech, Goudmijn, Sandra, Uddenas; Parrott
We say: Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 SBV Excelsior
Both sides have struggled for goals of late, but we are expecting an entertaining affair nonetheless. That said, we are backing Sparta Rotterdam to carry the day come the sound of the full-time whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
