Preview: Sparta Rotterdam vs. Go Ahead Eagles - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the away side will be aiming to pick up back to back league victories for the first time since September having recently returned to winning ways.

Match preview

Sparta Rotterdam had to make do with a point yet again following a goalless stalemate against Fortuna Sittard at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Friday.

Maurice Steijn's men had the majority of the ball possession but failed to make it count as they were restricted to just two shots on target all-game long.

While De Kasteelheren remain sixth in the Eredivisie table, six points now separate them from Ajax in race for the final automatic European spot.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with just one victory in the most recent five meetings between the teams, losing three of the other four.

Ahead of a daunting task against defending champions Ajax seven days later, Sunday's hosts will be looking to set the tone with a dominant display this weekend.

Go Ahead Eagles ended a three-match losing run by narrowly beating NEC Nijmegen 1-0 on Sunday when the sides went head to head at De Adelaarshorst.

Finn Stokkers opened the scoring 10 minutes shy of half time and that was enough to hand Rene Hake's men all three points in a tight encounter.

However, the Pride of the IJssel Kowet suffered a 1-0 defeat against lower league side ADO Den Haag in their KNVB-Beker last-16 clash on Thursday.

Having lost each of their last three matches on the road by a combined score of 6-1, Sunday's visitors set out to turn their away fortunes around and move further clear of relegation danger.

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

D

W

W

D

D

D

Go Ahead Eagles Eredivisie form:

W

D

L

L

L

W

Go Ahead Eagles form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

L

Team News

Bas Kuipers is currently sidelined with an elbow injury, and the Dutchman is not expected to play any part for Go Ahead Eagles in this one.

Oliver Edvardsen is also ruled out for the visitors as he continues to nurse a muscle problem which will keep him out of a third straight match.

Sparta's Koki Saito remains unavailable for selection through a hamstring injury, while 31-year-old Bart Vriends also misses out due to a knock.

Adil Auassar shook off an injury scare to last the full course of the 90 minutes against Fortuna and the midfielder is expected to feature right from the off once again.

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Olij; Pinto, Auassar, Abels, Sambo; Kitolano, De Guzman; Van Crooy, Verschueren, Namli; Lauritsen

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

De Lange; Deijl, Nauber, Idzes, Fontan; Llansana, Rommens, Willumsson, Adekanye; Lidberg, Stokkers

We say: Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 Go Ahead Eagles

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