Sparta Rotterdam
- Sparta are 10th in the Eredivisie with 23 points after 17 games.
- Sparta have won three and lost two of their last five in all competitions.
- Sparta Rotterdam have been a very improved outfit since Maurice Steijn took over in November 2024 and the structured, high-pressing style that he demands of his team has delivered some recent results.
- Sparta have won their last two matches, including a 5-1 win away at Willem II in the KNVB Cup last weekend, and will feel confident of following up when they host a Heracles Almelo side that are still coming to terms with Ernest Faber’s pragmatic tactical tweaks.
- Steijn sets up Sparta in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation that seeks to overload the flanks, press in numbers and force opponents into a turnover to start a high-tempo attack.
- It won’t be easy to get the ball back this weekend against a patient and pragmatic Heracles side, but Sparta have the players and the system to make it happen.
- Sparta’s recent improved results coincide with a switch to a formation that works better in transition, but still allows them to press high when they need to.
- They have won and lost their last two home games in the Eredivisie and will be desperate for three points this weekend, while Heracles are in slightly better shape away from home with a win, a draw and seven losses from nine.
Heracles Almelo
- Heracles are 17th with 14 points after as many games.
- Heracles have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five.
- Heracles are reactive by nature, often sitting deep and looking to take the ball off Sparta’s press in transition, or to punish them at set-pieces or in second ball contests when the away team’s fullbacks push too far forward in the pressing system.
- Heracles are in slightly better shape away from home with a win, a draw and seven losses from nine.
Key Players
- Jizz Hornkamp is the form man for the visitors with ten Eredivisie goals in 14 appearances.
- Tobias Lauritsen has eight in 17 games for Sparta with three of his side’s last eight goals.
Betting Insights
- Heracles are the 4.03 outsiders here with the tie trading at 3.81 and Sparta at 1.88.
- BTTS is available at 1.54 which seems overly low for what should be an interesting game with opportunities for both sides at some stage of the game.
Prediction
Our pick is to back the home side at the short odds for several reasons - their better form, home advantage and Heracles’ poor record on the road.
