AZ Reserves vs Sparta Rotterdam Predictions

Sparta Rotterdam outclassed Jong AZ 5-0 at Het Kasteel in December’s reverse fixture, but things could be a lot closer when the sides square off again on the final day of the season this Friday. 2^nd placed Sparta are gearing up for the Play-offs and have been some way off their best in recent weeks, whilst Jong AZ have gradually improved throughout the campaign and go into this clash on the back of successive clean sheets.

There’s a massive 39 point gap between these two teams in the Eerste Divisie standings and ordinarily Sparta would be a fairly straightforward tip to bag the three points against Jong AZ.

The bookies still see it that way ahead of this Friday’s final day clash in Alkmaar, however the Rotterdam outfit look opposable at odds-on based on recent results and current circumstances. A 3-1 home victory against Helmond Sport is their only win from their last five league outings, and it’s clear that Henk Fraser’s men are now fully focused on the forthcoming Play-offs where they will have an excellent chance of returning to Eredivisie.

Fraser could well urge his team to start ramping up their preparations here at AFAS Stadion, but Sparta have ultimately won just five of their 18 away matches this season which is why they were unable to hold onto champions Twente.

So Jong AZ will feel that they can get something from this, and they have achieved a couple of really decent results of late. Michel Vonk’s side fought out a 0-0 stalemate with Twente at De Grolsch Veste on match day 36 before pinching a 0-1 triumph away to FC Eindhoven last week thanks to an Ondrej Mihalik penalty.

Jong are still 18^th in the table but have been gradually more competitive as the season has progressed and they have done well on balance to cope with the loss of top scorer Ferdy Druijff to NEC in January. It’s influenced their tactics quite heavily and they are now focused on being a tough team to beat, particularly at home.

Vonk’s charges have lost to both RKC and MVV at AFAS Stadion over the last few weeks but had previously gone five unbeaten at home, and we think that they can get something from this Friday’s contest against an undercooked Sparta side.