Sparta Rotterdam vs NEC Nijmegen Predictions

• NEC Nijmegen have avoided defeat in three of their four Eredivisie matches this season (Won 2, Drawn1).
• Sparta Rotterdam have failed to win 12 of their last 19 home Eredivisie matches.
• NEC have avoided defeat in their last two meetings with Sparta Rotterdam.

NEC could rattle Sparta 

Sparta Rotterdam showed signs of improvement in their 3-1 home win over Fortuna Sittard last weekend, but they go up against a more balanced unit in NEC this Friday.

Rogier Meijer’s men looked to be way out of their depth when they were massacred 5-0 by Ajax – and it could have been more – on their return to the Eredivisie after four seasons in the wilderness.

The coach has found a 4-5-1 formation that suits his players and gives them a defensive platform for a likely relegation scrap.

The visitors are actually as high as sixth after two wins and a draw in their three matches since the footballing lesson they were given in Amsterdam.

They will be under much less pressure than the hosts, whose fans at Het Kasteel will demand they beat NEC in their own backyard, and from currently sitting too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

Sparta’s record against NEC is good, but they look too short in the betting to be a value pick for us.

The Rotterdammers have won only seven of their last 19 home Eredivisie matches and they come up against a side high on confidence after three straight clean sheets.

NEC’s last three opponents have all finished the game with ten men, so frustration may be getting the better of some teams who are expected to punish the promoted side, who came up via a playoff.

Therefore we’d rather side with the visitors to avoid defeat in the double chance market than the hosts at roughly the same price.

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