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Sparta Rotterdam logo
Eredivisie | Gameweek 11
Nov 3, 2024 at 1.30pm UK
Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel
FC Utrecht

Sparta
1 - 4
Utrecht

Lauritsen (90+1' pen.)
Clement (39')
van der Kust (68')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Jensen (15'), Rodriguez (85'), Aaronson (88'), van der Hoorn (90+5')
van der Hoorn (87')

Preview: Sparta Rotterdam vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Eredivisie clash between Sparta Rotterdam and FC Utrecht, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh from ending a four-game winless streak, Sparta Rotterdam will set out to pick up where they left off when FC Utrecht come visiting the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Sunday.
 
The away side were also victorious on KNVB-Beker duty in midweek and will now seek to continue their recent resurgence with an eighth victory in nine matches across all competitions.
 


Match preview

Sparta Rotterdam coach Jeroen Rijsdijk on August 29, 2024© Imago

Sparta Rotterdam secured a much-needed return to winning ways by running out convincing 6-1 winners over Derde Divisie outfit USV Hercules in Thursday's round-of-64 matchup at the Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd.
 
After going behind to Sel Bastmeijer's opener, Jeroen Rijsdijk's men levelled matters through Arno Verschueren to take the tie into extra time, where Aymane Bais and Charles-Andreas Brym netted two goals apiece either side of Ayoub Oufkir's strike to seal the deal.
 
Just before that, De Rood-Witte Gladiatoren were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat against Heerenveen and have managed just two points from the last available 12 in league action since beating RKC Waalwijk on September 21.
 
Unsurprisingly, this slump in form has seen Sparta drop down to 11th place in the Eredivisie table, three points shy of the top half and as many points clear of relegation danger after the first 10 rounds of matches.
 
A chance to get themselves back on track now beckons this weekend, but the home side do not have fond memories of their recent meetings against the visitors, having managed just two wins from the last 22 encounters.
 
Sparta's home record this season is also a huge concern for Sunday's hosts, who are still yet to claim all three points from a league game in front of their fans after five attempts but have lost only once in that time.

Utrecht head coach Ron Jans on August 1, 2024© Imago
 
FC Utrecht successfully navigated the challenge of lower league opposition Lisse to secure safe passage into the next phase of the KNVB Beker thanks to a 2-1 win at Sportpark Ter Specke on Thursday.
 
Goals in either half from Can Bozdogan and Miguel Rodriguez secured a routine triumph for Ron Jans's men despite Enoch George's consolation strike in stoppage time, which set up a frenetic final couple of minutes.
 
That was a perfect response to De Domstedelingen's 2-0 defeat to Feyenoord on Sunday, which snapped their six-game winning streak dating back to a 2-1 triumph over NAC Breda on August 24.
 
With Feyenoord, FC Twente and AZ Alkmaar still yet to find their feet this term, Utrecht have emerged as PSV's nearest challengers so far alongside Ajax as they sit eight points behind the defending champions, albeit having played one game fewer.
 
In the first of three very winnable fixtures for Sunday's visitors this month, Utrecht will be keen to come away with maximum points before welcoming Heracles to the Stadion Galgenwaard in their final outing before the international break.
 

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:


Team News

Sparta Rotterdam's Mike Eerdhuizen on August 3, 2024© Imago

Teo Quintero continues to battle with a meniscus injury, and the Venezuelan defender is unfit to participate in a fifth straight game for Sparta Rotterdam.
 
Jonathan de Guzman is also unavailable for the home side through a muscle problem, but Tobias Lauritsen and Mike Eerdhuijzen are back from concussion and suspension respectively.
 
Long-term absentee Kevin Gadellaa is still a significant way off making his return to action from a knee injury he picked up against Roda earlier this year.
 
Twenty-one-year-old Alonzo Engwanda is out of contention for Utrecht, and that should see Oscar Fraulo retain his place in the starting lineup this weekend.


Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Van der Kust, Meissen, Young, Bakari; Clement, Kitolano; Nassoh, Verschueren, Neghli; Lauritsen

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; El Karouani, Viergever, Van der Hoorn, Horemans; Fraulo, Aaronson; Booth, Jensen, Cathline; Min


SM words green background

We say: Sparta Rotterdam 1-3 FC Utrecht

Despite recently suffering a first defeat of the season against Feyenoord, Utrecht have made a blistering start to proceedings this term and will definitely take some stopping this weekend.
 
We are backing the visitors to come out triumphant at the end of the 90 minutes in what should be an exciting affair.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Sparta vs Utrecht

Sparta Rotterdam
13.6%
Draw
28.8%
FC Utrecht
57.6%
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV1312014593636
2FC UtrechtUtrecht12101122121031
3Ajax1292127111629
4Feyenoord1384131131828
5FC Twente1374226121425
6AZ AlkmaarAZ1362525151020
7Go Ahead Eagles135351820-218
8Fortuna SittardSittard135261418-417
9NECNijmegen135172012816
10Willem II134451514116
11NAC BredaNAC Breda135171423-916
12Heerenveen134271326-1314
13Heracles133461425-1113
14PEC Zwolle133371424-1012
15Groningen133371224-1212
16Sparta RotterdamSparta132561320-711
17Almere CityAlmere City13139630-246
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk1312101233-215


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