Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
PSV
Match Time & Date:
07/01/2023
21:00
Prediction: 2-0
Sparta Rotterdam
PSV will look to stay in the title race when they take on Sparta Rotterdam in the opening game of 2023. PSV are a real force to be reckoned with at home, but keep in mind that they were beaten by AZ Alkmaar in their last home game in the national championship. Cody Gakpo is no longer part of the team, and, in his absence, Luuk de Jong will lead the line for the hosts.
Mauro Junior remains on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, while Olivier Boscagli will be assessed ahead of the kick-off. Meanwhile, the Rotterdammers are on a five-game losing run to PSV at Philips Stadion, which is probably the main reason why we are going to bet on the title-chasing hosts. Jonathan De Guzman is a major doubt, speaking of the away side.
Highlighted Player (Anwar el Ghazi):
Anwar El Ghazi is a product of famous Ajax football academy and it has to be noted that he scored 20 goals in 70 matches for the first team from 2014 to 2017. El Ghazi played for the likes of BVV Barendrecht, Feyenoord, Spartaan ’20 and Sparta Rotterdam during his youth career as well and, speaking of the first-team football, he moved to Ligue 1 side Lille in January 2017 for a fee of €8 million.
The pacey winger scored one goal in 12 appearances for les Dogues in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 campaign, but, no doubt, there is a bright future ahead of the former Ajax starlet. Seeing that he has a dual citizenship, Anwar El Ghazi is eligible to represent both Netherlands and Morocco at senior level, but he made his debut for the Orange in a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan, with the Lille winger starting the match in a 4-3-3 formation alongside Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Memphis Depay.
Anwar El Ghazi is capable of playing as a centre-forward as well and his preferred foot is right.
Highlighted Team (Sparta Rotterdam):
Founded back on April 1, 1888, Sparta Rotterdam is considered one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands. De Kasteelheren (the Castle Lords) welcome their opponents at Het Kasteel, and they have a great rivalry with Feyenoord. Yet another Rotterdam club Excelsior are considered Sparta’s fierce rivals as well.
Sparta Rotterdam wear white shirts with red strips when playing on home soil, while sky blue is the dominant colour of their away kit. De Kasteelheren have won six Eredivisie trophies. Sparta were the dominant force in the Dutch football in the 1910s, with the team winning their last league title in the 1958/59 season.
De Kasteelheren have won three Dutch Cup trophies as well (1957/58, 1961/62, 1965/66). In the 1985/86 season Sparta last participated in the UEFA Cup, with the team beating Hamburger SC in round 1, while suffering elimination to Borussia Monchengladbach in the second round. Sparta’s stadium Het Kasteel can hold up to 11,926 spectators.
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 
Chelsea 
Fulham
Newcastle 
Aston Villa 
Nottingham Forest 
Tottenham
Southampton 
West Ham 
Wolves 
Manchester United 
