Sparta Rotterdam could leapfrog Ajax into fifth place in the Dutch Eredivisie table by beating RKC Waalwijk on Tuesday evening.

The visitors, meanwhile, could move as high as tenth with a victory.

Match preview

After marginally surviving relegation last season, Sparta have been one of the surprise packages in the Netherlands so far this campaign.

De Kasteelheren finished just one point above the relegation playoff spot last season, with their decision to sack their former boss Henk Fraser and replace him with Maurice Steijn in the managerial dugout in late April ultimately vindicated.

Steijn, whose previous spell came at NAC Breda, has made himself an instant hero in Rotterdam, with his side earning an impressive point away to PSV Eindhoven in their first game back after the World Cup before securing successive wins against SBV Excelsior and Cambuur in recent weeks.

After finishing eighth under Fraser two seasons ago, Steijn will have his sights set on going at least one better than his predecessor with a top seven finish this time around. A third straight victory on Tuesday would certainly do them no harm at all in terms of achieving that ambition.

Waalwijk, meanwhile, appear to be on course for another solid campaign in mid-table after finishing 10th last season.

Bottom at the time that the 2019-20 Eredivisie campaign was declared null and void due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Waalwijk have built on their case of good fortune in that regard by re-establishing themselves in the Dutch top flight.

After their arranged fixture against Go Ahead Eagles was postponed at the weekend, head coach Joseph Oosting - who replaced Fred Grim last summer - will be keen to take advantage of his players' fresher legs when they travel to Rotterdam in midweek.

However, after failing to win any of their last three league fixtures, the 50-year-old may not be too disappointed if they return home having avoided defeat against their in-form opponents.

Team News

Sparta are likely to remain without former Swansea City midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

Otherwise, though, Steijn appears to have a fully fit squad to choose from and he may see no reason to change a winning starting XI after comfortably dispatching Cambuur at the weekend.

Waalwijk, meanwhile, may travel without forwards Julen Lobete and Michiel Kramer due to muscle and back injuries respectively.

Belgium international Zakaria Bakkali could be called upon from the start after coming off from the bench during his side's defeat to FC Volendam in their last match.

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Sambo, Vriends, Auassar, Pinto; Mijnans, Verschueren, Kitolano; Van Crooy, Lauritsen, Saito

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Gaari, Adewoye, Van Den Buijs; Lelieveld, Oukili, Anita, Lutonda; Clement; Bakkali, Seuntjens

We say: Sparta Rotterdam 1-1 RKC Waalwijk

With little to split these two teams in terms of quality, we can envisage a share of the spoils playing out in Rotterdam on Tuesday.

The hosts will be pushing for a victory to move up one place in the table, but the visitors will be determined not to lose a second successive match and should be fresher after having the weekend off.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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