ERIK SAYS :

SC Heerenveen – Sparta Rotterdam
Football: Netherlands, Eredivisie
Saturday, 14th March 2009 - Kickoff 19.45

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SC Heerenveen are currently on the 4th place in the ranking being four points down on the number two FC Twente. With the second place in the Dutch League entitling the holder to a place in the preliminary round of the Champions League, four teams (PSV, Ajax, FC Twente and SC Heerenveen) are still competing for the place behind the future Dutch champions AZ.

Last weekend SC Heerenveen grabbed a 2-1 home win over FC Groningen after the visitors got down to ten men halfway the first half. With Groningen striker Garcia being sent off in the second half, SC Heerenveen gained a two-men advantage but did not succeed in scoring the winning goal until the final minute of the stoppage time. Bad news for the hosts was the injury of Pranjic (mid, groin) but the midfielder is confirmed to be fit for the game against Sparta this Saturday.

Sparta are currently occupying the 15th place in the ranking and the team is only two points clear of the relegation zone. Last week the team suffered a 0-1 home defeat against Willem II in a very poor game from both sides. With FC Volendam winning their game against Vitesse (1-0) last week, the last place in the table is only five points away for Sparta and the team will have to start collecting points soon in order to avoid the relegation play-offs or even direct relegation. However, is SC Heerenveen an opponent against you can grab vital points at this moment?

Injuries and suspensions

SC Heerenveen :
Geert Arend Roorda (mid)(knee), Michal Svec (mid)(knee), Mika Vayrynen (mid) (knee)

Sparta Rotterdam :
Edwin van Bueren (mid) (ankle), Floribert N'Galula (mid)(knee), Harald Wapenaar (gk)(back), Maciej Wilusz (def) (injury)

Previous meetings

20/12/2008 Sparta – SC Heerenveen 4-1
13/04/2008 Sparta – SC Heerenveen 4-2
01/09/2007 SC Heerenveen - Sparta 3-3
01/04/2007 Sparta – SC Heerenveen 2-2
05/11/2006 SC Heerenveen - Sparta 2-0
21/01/2006 SC Heerenveen - Sparta 0-0
20/11/2005 Sparta - SC Heerenveen 1-2

The Betting Verdict

SC Heerenveen is working on a very strong series of games in the Abe Lenstra stadium winning their last six home games in a row. After the winter break SC Heerenveen has been formed into a real team by coach Sollied with all players being in good form and the moment, both physically and mentally.

Sparta seems to have lost track a little in their last games after a very decent start of the season. The team scraped only point from their last four games, losing three in a row against Willem II (0-1), NAC Breda (3-1) and FC Twente (1-2).

Taking a look at the home and away form of Sparta we clearly see that Sparta are not the best travelers in the Eredivisie losing nine from their thirteen away games this season and winning only once.

SC Heerenveen will have not much difficulties in adding their seventh straight win to their record this weekend and anything else than a home win would be a major surprise.

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take SC Heerenveen to win $1.36