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

For both sides, this weekend's clash is nothing more than a dead rubber, as the already-relegated visitors will be playing for pride while the hosts begin to look toward next season's Conference League qualifiers.

Match preview

Groningen were condemned to their joint-heaviest defeat this season as they suffered a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of a rampant Vitesse side last Sunday.

In a game where Peter Leeuwenburgh received his marching orders, Million Manhoef grabbed a hat-trick and set up one goal to cap off a stellar individual display.

Dennis van der Ree's men have now failed to win each of their last 10 league matches, picking up one draw and losing nine since February's 3-0 victory over Excelsior.

This dire run of results has seen the Trots van het Noorden 15-year stint in the top flight come to an end as they drop to the second tier, having picked up just 18 points from their 33 matches.

While Groningen will be looking to stop the rot and go down with their heads held high, they face an opposing side who are unbeaten in their last four meetings, claiming three wins and one draw since a 3-2 loss in December 2020.

Having finished in the bottom half of the table last season, Sparta Rotterdam will feel thrilled with their performance this season as they have guaranteed a spot in the Conference League playoff.

Maurice Steijn's men returned to winning ways last Sunday as they came from behind to secure an impressive 4-1 victory over Cambuur when the sides squared off at the Sparta Stadion.

After falling behind to Marco Tol's early opener, Koki Saito, Mica Pinto, Joshua Kitolano and Younes Namil all found the back of the net to turn the game on its head and hand the Yellow-Blues a ninth straight loss.

Prior to that, De Kasteelheren were on a three-match winless run, picking up one draw and falling to successive defeats at the hands of PSV Eindhoven and Volendam in their first two games in May.

Last week's victory over Cambuur meant Sparta Rotterdam are now guaranteed a sixth place in the Eredivisie this season — their highest top-flight finish since the 1995-1996 campaign.

Groningen Eredivisie form:

L

L

L

D

L

L

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

W

W

D

L

L

W

Team News

Groningen will finish the season without goalkeeper Leeuwenburgh, who is suspended after picking up a straight red in last week's humiliating defeat to Vitesse.

With first-choice goalkeeper Michael Verrips currently sidelined with a muscle problem, 23-year-old Jan de Boer will start in goal for just the second time since joining the club in 2019.

Former Dutch international Jetro Williams has missed the last three matches through injury, while fellow defender Liam Van Gelderen has been out of action since early April.

Twenty-year-old striker Paulos Abraham is yet to feature for Trots van het Noorde this year as he continues his rehabilitation after picking up a severe knee injury back in December.

Saito has been on song for Sparta Rotterdam, and the 21-year-old forward, who has five goals and two assists in his last 10 matches, will be one to keep an eye on.

He should be joined in the final third by Vito van Crooij, who leads the visitors in league goals (11) and assists (11), and Tobias Lauritsen, who has started all 33 games so far.

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Baron; Schreuders, Balker, Sorensen, Musampa; Suslov, Duarte, Antman, Hove, Maata; Pepi

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Olij; Sambo, Vriends, Auassar, Pinto; Kitolano, De Guzman, Namli; Van Crooij, Lauritsen; Saito

We say: Groningen 0-2 Sparta Rotterdam

With their respective campaigns already decided, Groningen and Sparta Rotterdam will be simply playing for pride at this point. The hosts' form is currently nothing to write home about and we fancy Steijn's men claiming all three points.

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