Delightful dogfight as daring Sparta Rotterdam duel with determined RKC Waalwijk

It’s a hectic schedule for the away team, as they were in action only four days ago in the Eredivisie.

Sparta Rotterdam form and stats

The home fans haven’t been spoiled with victories in the Eredivisie this season. Sparta Rotterdam have only managed 1 win, 4 draws and 4 losses from their games here at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel. When Sparta Rotterdam hosts teams that live in the bottom of the table (like Fortuna Sittard, Sparta Rotterdam, PEC Zwolle, Heracles and Willem II), they have won 1 of 2 matches! Rotterdam are slowly digging their own grave here at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel with the depressing streak of not having won a home league game in seven attempts. The last victory here came in the Fortuna Sittard match.

The spoils were shared in Rotterdam's previous game, also at home. Visiting Vitesse (placed 5th) travelled back with a draw after a 2-2 scoreline. Late drama in the game against Vitesse as Rotterdam were trailing by a goal near the finishing line until Mijnans popped out and made it level in the 90th minute. Mijnans (midfield was the top team player in that game with a rating of 8.92/10. Mijnans scored two goals, hit three key passes, dribled past the opponent 2 of 3 times and had 38 successful passes (of 42 total).

Heartbreak before that as Rotterdam lost 1-2 at Vitesse's place.

The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Rotterdam have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found twelve games) they have won six times, drawn five and lost one.

Rotterdam have scored 8 league goals here from 9 matches, not a lot. On the other hand, Sparta Rotterdam have conceded 13 goals.

RKC Waalwijk form and stats

RKC Waalwijk have only collected 5 points from their away games in the Eredivisie, after 0-5-3 (8 played).

This game can not go any worse than the last one, a Eredivisie home defeat versus PSV with 1-4 on the scoreboard. It's a concern for Waalwijk that their goalkeeper Vaessen made nine saves in the PSV match, but still were unable to save them from a beating. Vaessen was the team player of the game with the player rating of 7.53. The agile goalkeeper Vaessen stopped the opponent with nine saves.

Prior to that result Waalwijk won their away game at Harkemase Boys in the KNVB Beker. The scoreline was 5-0.

Waalwijk are the outsiders in this one, but not by much. Their performance in similar games (being the away team and moderate outsiders) is zero wins, zero draws and six defeats. From a total of six matches.

Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Waalwijk have scored 10 goals in 8 league games away. As for defending, Waalwijk rarely keep clean sheets as they have conceded 13 goals from these away matches.

Head 2 Head

The most up to date past result between these teams is the RKC Waalwijk - Rotterdam 1-0 played previously this season. Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: seven - one - two (Rotterdam wins - draws - RKC Waalwijk wins). As for goals, three matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), seven had two or less.

Top Goalscorers

J. Odgaard 6 goals

M. Kramer 5 goals

B. Vriends 3 goals

Sparta Rotterdam missing players

RKC Waalwijk missing players