Nijmegen vs Sparta Rotterdam prediction: NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie betting tips on match 2024-02-23 20:00.
Heading into this crucial match, NEC Nijmegen is one point above Sparta Rotterdam and this promises to be an exciting match in the battle for European football. Not much currently separates these two teams, illustrated further by four draws from the last five head-to-heads. Nijmegen could already have one eye looking ahead to next Tuesday when they head to SC Cambuur for the KNVB Cup semi-final, where they could qualify for the final for the first time this century.
Rogier Meijer’s side came out on top in their last five home games across all competitions, but has often had a hard time against Sparta in recent years. The last nine games between these sides did not yield a single victory (D5, L4) for the Nijmegen side, and in all those matches they scored no more than one goal. On the bright side, Meijer can again select Lasse Schöne who, upon his return to the team last week, became the most capped foreigner of the Eredivisie (434).
Sparta may have conceded a lot less often than NEC this season, but they’ve also had more difficulty scoring themselves. They have scored six goals fewer than city rivals Excelsior, who start this round just one spot above the danger zone, despite putting four past them last week (W 4-2). The difference with their next opponents is 12 goals scored, whilst they’ve conceded six fewer in return.
That win over Excelsior was particularly welcome for Sparta after they managed just one goal and one Eredivisie point from their four previous matches. One advantage they’ll take into this contest is that they’ve managed to pick up five more points away from home than within the walls of Het Kasteel. Head coach Jeroen Rijsdijk has an almost complete squad to choose from, but this week cannot call up Camiel Neghli.
Players to watch: Tjarron Chery was on the scoresheet in three of his five matches since his switch to NEC, whilst Tobias Lauritsen has amassed a total of four goals and two assists in his last four Eredivisie starts.
Hot streak: The last ten league head-to-heads produced under 2.5 total goals.