Dutch EreDivision
2009-08-01 - Sparta Rotterdam vs FC Twente
A Sports Betting Pick by Erik
Football: Netherlands, Eredivisie
Saturday 1st August 2009 - Kickoff 19:45 CET
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam finished on the 13th place last season five points above the relegation zone and behind RKC Waalwijk and VVV Venlo the team is considered the third favorite candidate for relegation this season.
Sparta welcomed a new team manager over the summer with Adelaar coming over from FC Volendam and some enforcements were installed at the back with Bakens (def), Boakye (def) and Slijngard (def) being added to the selection.
Up front Sparta is considered to have a big problem with the team only managing to find the net once in their last five games against PAOK Saloniki (Gre), AA Gent (Bel), Westerlo (Bel), FC Den Bosch and Haarlem but the good news is that only two goals were conceded in these five games.
FC Twente
Finishing on the second place in the ranking FC Twente knew an excellent season last year grabbing a ticket for the Champions League play-offs at the expense of Ajax.
Unfortunately for FC Twente the club saw two of their best players leave to Germany with Braafheid (def) signing a contract with Bayern München and Elia (att) leaving to Hamburger SV. The third player that will most likely not wear the red jersey next year is Arnautovic (att), being desired by Internazionale and a transfer to Italy will be the most likely option over the summer.
FC Twente signed some new players as well with Parker (att) coming over from Thanda Royal Zulu (SAf) after playing an impressive tournament with South Africa for the Confederations Cup.
Four other forwards were added to the selection but failed to impress yet with FC Twente managing to score only five goals in their last five games against AA Gent (Bel), Schalke 04 (Ger), FC Zwolle, Bor. Mönchengladbach (Ger) and Swansea City (Eng) suffering two defeats and booking one draw.
The Betting Verdict
With both teams having trouble to find the net a low scoring game may be on the cards and therefore my first bet of the season will be the draw between Sparta and FC Twente.
