Sparta Rotterdam vs Groningen Predictions

• Sparta have won 2 and drawn 3 of their last 7 matches against Groningen.
• Sparta have only lost 2 home games so far this season.
• Groningen have only won 2 games away from home in the Eredivisie.
• Both teams have scored in a majority of Sparta’s home games this season.

Sparta look strong at home this season

Sparta ran out 4-2 winners at home to struggling Den Haag in midweek while Groningen were victorious at home against Vitesse last weekend, claiming a 1-0 win. Only 5pts separate these two clubs in the Eredivisie table with Groningen pushing for the European places and Sparta happy to see themselves 10pts clear of the automatic relegation places.

Sunday’s hosts have a good home record in their first season back in the Eredivisie, winning six, drawing three, and losing just two of their eleven games at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel. Groningen might head into this clash as the slight form favourites but the visitors have not been anywhere near as convincing on the road as they have in their own backyard. The visitors have only secured two wins on the road, picking up four draws and suffering five defeats in their eleven away games, so you can see why we have backed Sparta with a double chance bet this weekend.

Sparta average 1.91 points per home game while Groningen average just 0.91 points per away game, which suggests that the most likely result is a home win this weekend, with a slight possibility of the game ending in a draw. The hosts have a win ratio of 55% in their own backyard and Groningen have dropped points in 82% of their away games, which adds further weight to our double chance bet on Sunday’s match.

Groningen perform much better in their own backyard than they do on the road

The hosts score an average of 2.18 goals per home game and concede 1.18 goals while the visitors score an average of 0.64 goals per away game and concede 1.09 goals, and we have backed Sparta to claim a 2-1 victory this weekend. Over 2.5 goals have been produced in 73% of Sparta’s home games while 64% have seen both teams score, both of which tie in with our final scoreline prediction.

Sparta have only kept clean sheets in 36% of their home matches this season but have only failed to score in 9%, while Groningen have only managed to keep their opponents out in 27% of their away games. Two of Sparta’s wins this season have been via a 1-goal margin while a majority of Groningen’s defeats (5) have also had a 1-goal margin.

We’re confident that a double chance bet on Sparta is the best way to bet this weekend and we have predicted a final scoreline of 2-1. The hosts have a great home record considering they only returned to the top flight of Dutch football this season and Groningen’s poor away record is likely to see them miss out on European football. The visitors might not win many games away but they have drawn their fair share on the road, which is why we have backed a double chance bet rather than an outright Sparta victory.