Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
There will be fireworks when Sparta Rotterdam and Zwolle face each other in the relegation six-pointer at Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel. The Rotterdammers recorded a very important 2-1 win at Groningen, but despite the triumph, they remained in the relegation zone. Sparta face yet another must-win situation against Zwolle, and they are likely to adopt an attack-minded approach in Wednesday’s clash. Both Engels and Goncalves Pinto should miss out with injuries for the home team.
The rock-bottom side, on the other hand, played out a 1-1 draw with Utrecht at the weekend. Zwolle have already suffered 11 defeats on the road this season, which is probably the main reason why we are going to put our money on Sparta. Dick Schreuder is unlikely to make changes to the team that faced Utrecht on Matchday 32.
Highlighted Player (Bryan Smeets):
Bryan Smeets is a product of MVV Maastricht football academy who plays for Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie. Smeets scored 23 goals in 144 league appearances for MVV before joining De Graafschap in 2015.
After his spell with the Superboeren, the midfielder moved to Cambuur in the 2017/18 season. The following season he joined Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv where he scored 12 goals in 37 appearances in the elite division. Bryan Smeets then decided to return to Netherlands as he joined Sparta Rotterdam in the 2019/20 season. He scored his first goal with De Kasteelheren in a 4-0 win over RKS Waalwijk on September 21, 2019.
His main position is attacking midfielder, but he is used as both central midfielder and right winger as well. Bryan Smeets has a contract with Sparta Rotterdam which should expire on June 30, 2021. He is a two-footed player.
Highlighted Team (Zwolle):
Founded on June 12, 1910, PEC Zwolle is a Dutch football club which competes in the Eredivisie. Zwolle have yet to win the national championship, but they did remarkably well to lift the Dutch Cup trophy in 2014. Ron Jans’s troops impressed in the title game, with the team rolling over Dutch giants Ajax 5-1.
The Blauwingers play their home games at MACPARK Stadion, the venue with the capacity of 14,000 people. The multi-use stadium was opened on August 29, 2009. Zwolle’s home kit is blue and white, while the colour of their away jersey is green and white. In the 2014/15 season the Blauwingers represented the Netherlands in the Europa League, with the team losing to Sparta Prague in the play-off round.
The likes of Henk Timmer (237), Johan Hansma (231), Bert Konterman (219), Arne Slot (208), and Jasper Drost (182) are the players with the most league appearances for the club. Go Ahead Eagles are considered the club’s biggest rivals as both teams are located at the river Ijssel.