Dutch EreDivision
2005-11-26 - FC Twente vs Sparta Rotterdam
A Sports Betting Pick by Erik
The number 15 visiting the number 13 in the rankings. FC Twente at home against Sparta Rotterdam. Both teams lost their games last weekend, so which one will bounce back this weekend?FC TWENTE
FC Twente is currently 13 in the rankings with 14 points out 12 games. This is not the place FC Twente wants and needs to be, but despite a very bad start of the season (4 points out of 6 games) they start to struggle their way up in the listings.
Their main target for the season is to reach the play-offs, so they have to end the season with the first 9. FC Twente has got a very decent team with N'Kufo as main striker who seems to get back in shape after a slow start.
Last year he scored 16 goals in the competition and this year he found the net four times, scoring twice against Willem II two weeks ago.
Last weekend they lost 2-0 away to Ajax due to an own goal by Majstorovic in the 70th minute and a goal from Rosenberg in injury time. FC Twente deserved more and were unlucky to lose the match to a struggling Ajax side.
The last 5 games of FC Twente ended up in two wins: at home to Willem II (3-1) and away to RKC (1-2), one draw away to NAC Breda (1-1) and two losses away to Ajax (2-0) and at home against PSV(0-1).
SPARTA ROTTERDAM
Sparta are currently on the 15th place with 12 points out of 12 games and probably will stay in those regions for the rest of the season.
Sparta felt quite unlucky last week against Heerenveen and found themselves "robbed" of three points according to their trainer Wiljan Vloet.
The last 5 games Sparta lost three games, at home against Heerenveen (1-2), away to PSV (3-0),at home against Roda JC (2-3) and drew twice, away to NEC (0-0) and away to Willem II (0-0).
Last year Sparta was a real goal machine in the Gouden Gids Divisie with their three strikers Van den Bergh, Mustapha and Koevermans all scoring more than 20 goals.
This year the productivity of new arrivals Cvetkov, Oost and Rose are disappointing with only RBC Roosendaal scoring fewer goals.
Team news
Both team are expected to start with the same starting XI like last weekend. For Sparta Van den Berg is likely to play after an injury (ankel) which kept him from the fields for more than a month.
Probable Starting XI FC Twente:
Boschker, Heubach, Zomer, Majstorovic, Ouedraogo, Niemeyer, Bakircioglu, Brama, Touma, El Ahmadi and N'Kufo
Probable Starting XI Sparta:
Ponk, De Fauw, Gudde, Zoontjes, Gudelj, Michels, Obodai, Polak, Bouaouzan, Van den Bergh and Oost
The Verdict
Sparta doesn't perform well away with only one win and three draws against NEC, Willem II and RBC Roosendaal. Last year FC Twente was very strong at home, giving even Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV a very tough time there.
FC Twente was unlucky to lose against Ajax and I see them bouncing back with a home win over Sparta. Even with the possible return of Van den Bergh I can't see Sparta stealing points in Enschede.
