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Sparta Rotterdam vs Roda JC Predictions

  • 19:00
  • Expired
  • Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel
Sparta Rotterdam
Roda JC

odds when tipped

odds when tipped

Sparta Rotterdam vs Roda JC Predictions

After notching six wins from their last nine league games, Roda JC have moved up to 5th in the Eerste Divisie standings and have given themselves an outside chance of contesting for automatic promotion in the second half of the season. Robert Molenaar’s side returned from the festive break with a bang to see off Go Ahead Eagles 3-1 in Kerkrade, but they face an altogether different test this Friday in Rotterdam against 3rd placed Sparta who have won nine of their ten matches this term at Het Kasteel.

Roda are still nine points behind leaders Den Bosch who beat them 2-0 before Christmas, but the Kerkrade outfit responded brilliantly to that defeat at Parkstad Limburg Stadion last week, as a brace from club top scorer Mario Engels sealed a 3-1 success against fellow promotion chasers Go Ahead.

Den Bosch’s 2-6 romp at Dordrecht ultimately meant that Roda could make no further in roads on top spot, but they will feel there’s plenty of time and opportunities left this season to close the gap if able to maintain their current form following an extremely slow start to life back in the second tier.

Roda had been slipping up against the weaker teams in the division and have generally held their own throughout against the big boys as their 1-1 draw with Sparta in October’s reverse fixture typifies, but they’ll have to step up again to even match that result here.

Molenaar’s side have lost four of their ten matches on the road this season and they come up against a Sparta side who boast by far the best home record in the league.

Henk Fraser’s charges have won nine of their ten fixtures in Rotterdam with Jong PSV the only side thus far to earn a draw at Het Kasteel, and they have smashed in 18 goals in their last five outings in front of their own supporters, including 6-1 and 5-0 hammerings of Almere City and Jong AZ respectively on their most recent starts.

Roda will obviously pose more of a threat to the hosts in this Friday’s encounter based on their fine recent form and attacking capabilities, but it’s hard to envisage anything other the Rotterdam outfit only managing a 3-3 draw at mid-table Cambuur on match day 20.

That shouldn’t be taken as too much of a concern for punters here as Sparta’s away form has been sticky at best throughout the season – and so far that’s had no impact on their performance levels at Het Kasteel.

If anything, Sparta are likely to be more fired up after dropping two crucial points in the promotion race, and they’ll be desperate to reclose the gap to leaders Den Bosch who hold a four point advantage over them.

This is arguably the standout fixture in Eerste Divisie this Friday, and we expect a good quality contest with Sparta coming out on top. Roda could easily get on the scoresheet, but with Sparta having conceded just seven at home, we’re slightly averse to adding both teams to score into the mix. Nevertheless, we’re going to chance a 3-1 correct score alongside a three point stake on Sparta in the match betting market.

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