Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Utrecht will be aiming to recover from an embarrassing KNVB Beker loss (1-4) to Spakenburg when they take on Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie round 24. Utrecht are eyeing a top-seven finish, and a win over Sittard will see them move one step closer to meeting the goal. Michael Silberbauer’s troops rolled over Sparta Rotterdam 3-0 in their last league match, and they are seen as favourites to beat Fortuna on home soil as well. Luuk Brouwers is banned for the match, while all Nick Viergever, Can Bozdogan, and Amin Younes remain in the recovery room. Experienced forward Bas Dost remains doubtful.
The visitors, on the other hand, have been struggling at the back of late, with the team conceding seven goals in total in back-to-back losses to RKC (1-3) and Feyenoord (2-4). Since Utrecht are a real force to be reckoned with at home, we do not believe that the visitors are capable of grabbing something from Friday’s clash. Defender Ivo Pinto should be the only absentee in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Mike van der Hoorn):
Mike van der Hoorn is a Dutch international who plays for Arminia Bielefeld as a centre-back. Van der Hoorn spent his youth career at the likes of Buitenboys, Omniworld and Utrecht, and he continued playing for the “Cathedral citizens” at senior level.
The Dutch footballer then joined Ajax where he scored three goals in 33 appearances in the Eredivisie. During his spell with the famous Eredivisie club he made 22 appearances for Jong Ajax as well. In 2016 he decided to move to UK as he signed a three-year deal with Swansea City.
After spending four seasons at the Liberty Stadium, Mikel van der Hoorn joined Arminia Bielefeld in the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The Dutch defender made his Bundesliga debut on September 19, 2020 in a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. His primary position is centre-back, and he has a contract with Arminia until June 30, 2023.
Highlighted Team (Sittard):
Fortuna Sittard is one of the newer additions to Dutch football as the club was founded on July 1, 1968. During the 1990s talented footballers such as Kevin Hofland, Mark van Bommel, and Fernando Ricksen played for the club, but they failed to close the gap between Dutch giants Ajax and PSV. In 1999, though, the Fortunezen did well to make it to the Dutch Cup final, with the team facing Ajax in the title game.
Amsterdammers defeated Fortuna Sittard 2-0 at De Kuip, with Jesper Gronkjaer scoring a brace. Fortuna Sittard players wear yellow shirts and green shorts when playing at home, while their away kit is white. The Fortunezen host their rivals at Fortuna Sittard Stadion. The venue was built in 1999, and it can hold up to 12,500 spectators.
Aforementioned midfielder Mark Van Bommel is the most notable footballer who played for the club. After ending his spell with Fortuna Sittard in 1999, Mark van Bommel played for the likes of PSV, Barcelona, Bayern Munchen, and Milan.