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NederlandWith an opportunity to go ahead of them in the Eredivisie table, VVV-Venlo welcome Sparta Rotterdam to the Covebo Stadion on Sunday in the closing fixture of this week's round of matches.
The sides are in contrasting form at the moment with Sparta picking up only five points in the last five league games, while VVV have amassed double that tally in that time.
Match preview
© Reuters
On Sunday, Sparta were held to a draw for the second game running, this time at ADO Den Haag in a game where they were touted heavily as favourites.
Henk Fraser's men went in trailing at half time, but an improved display in the second half, where Reda Kharchouch found the back of the net, resulted in a share of the spoils.
De Kasteelheren have now gone four league games without a victory since beating Fortuna Sittard 1-0 away from home in mid-January.
Next up for them is a Venlo team against whom they have been victorious on six of the last 12 occasions, including the most recent two.
A 3-2 defeat to Fortuna Sittard last Saturday brought an end to VVV's unbeaten run in the league since the turn of the year, which stood at five games.
Despite Giorgos Giakoumakis's 21st Eredivisie goal of the season, Hans de Koning's men were unable to get anything out of a game where they will feel they should have.
The Venlose Trots have the best attacking record of any team in the bottom half but a leaky defence, which has conceded the joint-most goals in the division alongside bottom club Emmen, has been their major letdown.
VVV have not lost to Saturday's visitors in their last six meetings at home stretching back to 2009, and they will be keen on keeping it that way.
A victory for the home side would bolster their chances of finishing in the top half, and may also effectively put to bed any fear of a relegation scrap.
VVV-Venlo Eredivisie form: WWDWWL
VVV-Venlo form (all competitions): WDWWWL
Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form: LWLLDD
Team News
Sparta's Bart Vriends is yet to recover from a thigh problem which has seen him miss his side's last seven games including all of this year's action.
Deroy Duarte's muscle injury means that his involvement is still uncertain, and it could well go down to a late fitness examination.
VVV are set to be without Guus Hupperts as he continues to nurse an ankle problem that has sidelined him since December although he has made the bench on two occasions since then.
Joining him as Venlo's second absentee for the game is Tristan Dekker, who is a few weeks away from making his return to action as he battles with a knee issue.
VVV-Venlo possible starting lineup:
Kirschbaum; Guwara, Da Graca, Gelmi, Pachonik; Linthorst, Donis, Post; Van Crooy, Giakoumakis, John
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Meijers, Heylen, Beugelsdijk, Fortes; Auassar, Burger, Smeets; Duarte, Mijnans, Thy
We say: VVV-Venlo 1-2 Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam have struggled of late in general, but their performances in the last few games have improved. We expect them to win against a VVV team, who will definitely not go down without a fight.
