Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Heracles will look to make amends for back-to-back losses to Willem II and RKC when they host Sparta Rotterdam to their Erve Asito on the last day of the season. Heracles are one point away from securing the Eredivisie survival, and they are likely to adopt a cautious approach in Sunday’s clash. Midfielder Anas Ouahim is back from suspension, while Sven Sonnenberg has yet to serve his ban.
The Rotterdammers, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back wins over Groningen and Zwolle. Sparta are desperate to secure yet another elite division survival, but beating Heracles on the road is easier said than done. 16th-place Fortuna Sittard take on Nec on the road on Sunday, meaning that Sparta should be happy with one point from the match as well. Midfielder Adil Auassar is a major doubt after limping off with injury in a 2-0 win over Zwolle.
Highlighted Player (Janis Blaswich):
Janis Blawich is a German footballer who plays for Heracles Almelo as a goalkeeper. Blaswich started his senior career at Borussia Monchengladbach, make 125 appearances for the reserve team. In the 2015/16 season he was loaned to Dynamo Dresden where he made 30 league appearances.
Following his loan spell with the Yellow and Blacks, the 193-cm-tall shot-stopper moved to fellow German side Hansa Rostock, signing yet another loan deal. In 2018 he joined Dutch club Heracles Almelo, and he has been playing for the Heraclieden ever since. Janis Blaswich made his Eredivisie debut on August 11, 2018 in a 1-1 draw with Heracles, and he managed to keep his first clean sheet in the Dutch top flight the following month in a 4-0 win over De Graafschap.
The goalkeeper was born in Willich, Germany on May 2, 1991, and his preferred foot is right. Janis Blaswich wears the No. 1 shirt at Heracles.
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.