Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
AZ
Match Time & Date:
08/04/2023
20:00
Prediction: 2-1
Sparta Rotterdam
AZ Alkmaar play host to Sparta Rotterdam at their AFAS Stadion on day 28 of the 2022/2023 Eredivisie campaign. The Cheese Farmers are eager to climb to the Champions League berth, and we are positive that they will adopt an attack-minded approach in Saturday’s clash. Since there are no fresh injury worries in Pascal Jansen’s team, home win should definitely be considered.
The visitors, on the other hand, failed to extend their winning run to four games at the weekend, with the team losing the Rotterdam derby, and, no doubt, they are low on confidence ahead of the trip to Alkmaar. In the first half of the season AZ defeated Sparta 3-2, and we predict that history is going to repeat itself. As for the visiting team, midfielder Jonathan De Guzman is a major doubt as he has been struggling with an ankle injury of late.
Highlighted Player (Jordy Clasie):
Jordy Clasie is a product of the Feyenoord youth academy who plays for AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder. His main position is defensive midfield, but he is capable of producing fine displays as both central midfielder and centre-back as well.
Clasie played for the likes of Feyenoord, Excelsior (loan), Southampton, and Club Brugge (loan) before returning to Rotterdam. After ending his second spell with Feyenoord, the Dutch footballer joined AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2019. He made his AZ debut in the Eredivisie on August 4, 2019 in a 4-0 win over Fortuna Sittard.
Jordie Clasie has 12 caps with the Netherlands U21 team, and he made his senior debut in a 1-1 draw with Italy on February 6, 2013. Thanks to his elegant style of play, Clasie has earned the nickname of “Dutch Xavi”. The AZ Alkmaar midfielder was born in Haarlem, Netherlands on June 27, 1991.
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.
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