Preview: Feyenoord vs. Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam battle it out on Wednesday for a place in the final of the Eredivisie's Europa Conference League playoffs.

This is the first of two semi-final fixtures as Groningen and Utrecht face off in the second tie.

Match preview

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Feyenoord closed out their league campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over RKC Waalwijk at De Kuip on Sunday.

Nicolai Jorgensen and Jens Toornstra gave Dick Advocaat's men a commanding lead at half time, before Steven Berghuis added a third in the second period.

De Stadionclub ended in fifth place on the log - their worst finish in a decade - and will have to settle for a place in UEFA's newest tournament.

Standing in their way is a Sparta side who they beat 1-0 in the sides' most recent meeting at the Het Kasteel back in January.

Wednesday's hosts are also unbeaten in eight games on home turf versus the visiting side dating back to 2009, winning six and drawing two.

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Sparta Rotterdam ended their Eredivisie campaign on a high courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Heerenveen on Sunday.

Goals from Lennart Thy and Wouter Burger put Henk Fraser's men in the driving seat at half time, and they held on for all three points despite Siem de Jong pulling one back in the second half.

De Kasteelheren secured eighth spot as a result of that win, 12 points and three places behind their next opponents.

Wednesday's visitors are in search of their first taste of continental football since 1986 when they lost a UEFA Cup tie versus Borrusia Monchengladbach.

Team News

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Feyenoord's Bart Nieuwkoop suffered a thigh injury on the last day of February, and as a result, he is ruled out of Wednesday's game.

Steven Berghuis and Jens Toornstra both scored on their return to the starting XI last time out, and they will be heavily relied upon once again in this one.

Lucas Pratto's absence goes on as the Argentine forward continues to nurse a broken leg which he suffered a fortnight ago.

The away team will have to cope with the absence of Tim Coremans, who has missed the last nine months of action due to a shoulder problem.

Lennart Thy is his side's biggest threat in front of goal as he showed on his last visit to Feyenoord where he found the back of the net.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Marsman; Geertruida, Spajic, Senesi, Malacia; Toornstra, Kokcu, Teixeira; Berghuis, Bozenik, Linssen

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Abels, Heylen, Beugelsdijk, Fortes; Auassar, Burger, Smeets; Duarte, Mijnans, Thy

We say: Feyenoord 3-1 Sparta Rotterdam

The hosts have more pedigree in fixtures of this nature and will back themselves to come out on top. We are tipping them to carry the day come the full-time whistle.

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