Still yet to suffer a league defeat this term, Sparta Rotterdam entertain the challenge of Go Ahead Eagles at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Sunday.
The hosts finally recorded their first win of the season last time out, while their visitors will set out this weekend in search of an immediate response to a heavy defeat.
Match preview
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Sparta Rotterdam enjoyed a near-perfect pre-season campaign with seven wins from their eight involvements, only to open their league journey with three stalemates on the bounce.
After kicking off with a goalless share of the spoils against Heracles, Jeroen Rijsdijk's men played out consecutive 1-1 draws against FC Twente and Feyenoord and looked set to come away with only a point once again from their most recent outing away at newly promoted Willem II.
De Kasteelheren got their noses in front through Pelle Clement's 48th-minute strike but were pegged back by Cisse Sandra before Camiel Neghli struck in the penultimate minute of normal time to hand his side all three points.
Rijsdijk will be hoping the international break has not dampened his side's momentum as they look to record back-to-back league victories for the first time since beating Utrecht and Heerenveen in May.
Sparta failed to find the back of the net in both of their two encounters against Sunday's opponents last season but will fancy themselves to get on the scoresheet this time around, having registered in all but one of their last 16 competitive outings.
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Go Ahead Eagles ended last season dreaming of Conference League football after making it through to the preliminary round of the qualifiers, but that now seems a long time ago given their shambolic start to proceedings this term.
Paul Simonis's men first had their continental ambitions nipped in the bud by Norwegian outfit SK Brann courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate defeat over two meetings between the teams on July 25 and August 1.
Still picking themselves up from their European disappointment, the pride of the IJssel Kowet resumed league action with a 2-0 defeat against Fortuna Sittard before going on to lose by the same scoreline against Willem II.
Go Ahead Eagles got their first win at the third of asking courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over RKC Waalwijk in round three but headed into the international break fresh from a 3-0 thrashing against reigning champions PSV Eindhoven.
A tally of three points from their four matches so far means that Sunday's visitors currently sit 14th in the Eredivisie table ahead of this weekend's encounter, while only three teams in the division have seen their defences breached on more occasions.
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Team News
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Teo Quintero has missed each of Sparta's last two outings with a minor injury, but it remains to be seen if the Venezuelan will be fit enough to play any part here.
After drawing blanks in his first two outings of the season, Camiel Neghli has found the back of the net in consecutive games for the home side, making him one to keep an eye on.
Summer arrival Julius Dirksen will have to wait a little longer for his Go Ahead Eagles debut as the defender remains sidelined with a knee problem.
This weekend's visitors will also be without the services of Oliver Edvardsen, who last featured in May and has since been kept out of action through a foot injury.
Having lost his place in the lineup to Finn Stokkers, Victor Edvardsen will be pushing for a return to starting duty having scored the clincher in the most recent meeting between Sunday's opponents.
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Van der Kust, Eerdhuijzen, Meissen, Reith; Clement, Baas; Nassoh, Verschueren, Neghli; Lauritsen
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Plogmann; James, Kramer, Nauber, Llansana, Deijl; Breum, Twigt, Suray, Antman; Stokkers
We say: Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 Go Ahead Eagles
Despite not being too convincing at the top end of the pitch, Sparta have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack, and we expect that to continue this weekend with the hosts claiming a narrow win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
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