The regular league season may be over in the Eredivisie but there is one European place left to claim by the teams finishing between 5th and 8th in the table.
Two of those teams are FC Utrecht and Sparta Rotterdam and they meet in the first leg of their Europa Conference League playoff at the Stadion Galgenwaard on the 1st of June. FC Utrecht finished 7th in the table while Sparta Rotterdam finished in 6th place.
🤯 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬!😉 Which 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 did you like more?#fcutrecht pic.twitter.com/wfuYJDO7D0— FC Utrecht 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@FCUtrecht_EN) May 29, 2023
🤯 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬!😉 Which 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 did you like more?#fcutrecht pic.twitter.com/wfuYJDO7D0
FC Utrecht come into the first leg of the playoffs having beat Emmen 3-2 at home on the final day of the regular league season. It took only 2 minutes for FC Utrecht to open the scoring but Emmen equalised 10 minutes before half time.
Into the second half and FC Utrecht scored their second goal only to concede again 5 minutes later. FC Utrecht then had a player sent off but still managed to score the winning goal in the 79th minute.
The win over Emmen means FC Utrecht have won 3 of their last 4 fixtures in the Eredivisie. The wins have come over RKC Waalwijk and Emmen at home plus Cambuur away. The only defeat in their last 4 matches came at Ajax, who finished third in the league this season.
Home form in the Eredivisie shows FC Utrecht are undefeated in 10 of their 12 most recent games. They have won each of their last 3 home league matches and have kept a clean sheet in 3 of their last 4 home games.
Sparta Rotterdam travel to the Stadion Galgenwaard on the back of a comfortable 5-0 win at Groningen in the Eredivisie on the weekend. It was an expected victory for Sparta Rotterdam against a team already relegated but they went about their business in style, taking advantage of the extra player following a red card for the hosts to score 5 unanswered goals.
The win at Groningen means Sparta Rotterdam have won their last 2 fixtures in the league, with the other victory coming over Cambuur at home, another team who have been relegated this season. However, Sparta Rotterdam have won only 2 of their last 5 Eredivisie matches, tasting defeat at home against PSV and away to Volendam.
Away form shows Sparta Rotterdam are undefeated in 5 of their last 6 league games. They have found the back of the net in each of their last 6 away matches.
Team news and FC Utrecht have doubts over the fitness of Amin Younes, Bas Dost, Ramon Hendriks, Calvin Raatsie, and Django Warmerdam. Mike van der Hoorn is suspended.
Sparta Rotterdam have no injury or suspension concerns ahead of the match and should be at full strength.
We expect to see Sparta Rotterdam continue their away goal scoring run but FC Utrecht are good at home. This match could end with a narrow victory for the hosts, with both teams scoring.