Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Sparta
Match Time & Date:
23/01/2022
16:45
Prediction: 1-2
Utrecht
Sparta will be aiming to record their only third win of the season when they take on Utrecht in the Eredivisie round 20. Sparta have drawn each of their last four league fixtures, and, no doubt, they would be happy with one point from Sunday’s clash as well. First-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is out of contention for the hosts as he represents Nigeria at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Utrecht, on the other hand, are eager to make amends for a heavy 3-0 loss to Ajax. The visitors are eyeing a place in European competitions, and we predict that they will take advantage of Maduka Okoye’s absence between the sticks. Naoki Maeda, who suffered an injury at the weekend, misses out for the visitors, while both Moussa Sylla and Tommy St. Jago face race against clock to be fit for Sunday’s match.
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 (Utrecht):
Established on July 1, 1970, Utrecht is a Dutch club that competes in the Eredivisie. The club was founded as a merger of VV DOS, USV Elinkwijk, and Velox, and it has to be noted that VV DOS did well to win the Eredivisie trophy back in 1958.
Utrecht, on the other hand, have yet to win the national championship, but they have lifted three KNVB Cup trophies (1984/85, 2002/03, 2003/04). Leo van Veen is leading the club’s all-time goal-scoring chart with 153 goals. Speaking of the club’s colours, they were white and red shirts when playing at home, while blue is the dominant colour of their away jersey.
Due to the hooligan clashes, Utrecht have a rivalry with Dutch giants Ajax. The games between the two clubs have always been very tense on the field. Utrecht welcome their rivals at Stadion Galgenwaard, the venue which can hold up to 23,750 people. The stadium was opened back in May 1936.
