🔥 Our Hot tip

Arno Verscheuren to score anytime

Verscheuren has a strong goalscoring historical record and has gotten plenty of chances, but is yet to score this campaign

Saturday's late kick-off in the Eredivisie will see PEC Zwolle welcome Sparta Rotterdam in what could be a key fixture in the relegation battle. Read on for our PEC Zwolle vs Sparta Rotterdam predictions, odds and more.

PEC Zwolle vs Sparta Rotterdam prediction: Will Dylan Mbayo be the hero again for Zwolle?
PEC Zwolle vs Sparta Rotterdam prediction: Will Dylan Mbayo be the hero again for Zwolle? – Photo by imago

PEC Zwolle vs Sparta Rotterdam prediction: Struggling for form

Key stats:

  • Sparta Rotterdam have not kept a clean sheet all season.
  • Sparta have the eighth best away record in the league.
  • Zwolle have lost two of their last three home games.

Correct score prediction: PEC Zwolle 1-2 Sparta Rotterdam

Both of these sides come into this clash in poor form, and have slid into perilous positions in the Eredivisie table. Despite  sitting a point below their visitors, we back Sparta Rotterdam to spring a surprise and leave with all three points.

This is because of Sparta's solid away record, and their variance in front of goal. Despite starting this game in the drop zone, expected goal differential has them as the ninth-best side in the league.

Pre-game odds and win probability: A tight affair

HOME: 7/4  (2.75) – 36.4%
DRAW: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
AWAY: 7/5 (2.40) – 41.7%

*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

The bookmakers do not have a clear expected winner in this game, but favour Sparta Rotterdam. Their odds of 7/5 imply a 41.7% likelihood of victory, a verdict we endorse.

Feel free to take a look at our football betting tips page to check out our other predictions and tips!

Latest H2Hs: Too close to call

In-keeping with the bookmakers' odds, this pair's recent clashes have all been closely fought encounters.

In their last five, both have two wins each, and have shared the points on one other occasion.

Netherlands Eredivisie 04/02/24

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

0
PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

2

Netherlands Eredivisie 12/08/23

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

1
Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

2

Europe Friendlies 14/07/23

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

3
PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

1

Netherlands Eredivisie 11/05/22

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

2
PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

0

Netherlands Eredivisie 22/09/21

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

1
Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

1

PEC Zwolle preview: Can they avoid the relegation battle?

Zwolle are no strangers to a relegation battle, having finished in the top half just once in the last nine years.

However, with just one win in six and no clean sheets in eight games, the drop zone will be a little too close for comfort coming into this one.

Nine of Zwolle's 12 points have come at home, and they will hope that record can get them out of this sticky spot.

Predicted lineup: Schendelaar (GK), Floranus, Aertsson, El Azzouzzi, van den Berg, Namli, Monteiro, Mbayo, Vente

Netherlands Eredivisie 11/05/25

D

Go Ahead Eagles

Go Ahead Eagles

1

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

1

Netherlands Eredivisie 04/05/25

W

NAC

NAC

1

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

3

Netherlands Eredivisie 25/04/25

L

Feyenoord

Feyenoord

4

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

0

Netherlands Eredivisie 13/04/25

D

FC Twente

FC Twente

1

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

1

Netherlands Eredivisie 05/04/25

D

Almere City FC

Almere City FC

2

PEC Zwolle

PEC Zwolle

2

Sparta Rotterdam preview: Lacking in both boxes

Sparta Rotterdam find themselves in the drop zone after 13 games, largely because of their inefficiencies in both penalty areas.

De Kasteelheren have conceded 5.4 more goals than one would anticipate from their expected goals against, and scored 2.3 fewer than their expected goals for would suggest.

Such underperformance can only last so long, so we expect them to be back on track soon.

Predicted lineup: Olij (GK), Reith, Young, Eerdhuizen, van Aanholt, Kitolano, Baas, Kayky, Verschueren, Neghli, Lauritsen

Netherlands Eredivisie 10/05/25

W

Almere City FC

Almere City FC

0

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

3

Netherlands Eredivisie 04/05/25

L

FC Twente

FC Twente

2

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

0

Netherlands Eredivisie 27/04/25

D

Ajax

Ajax

1

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

1

Netherlands Eredivisie 12/04/25

W

Heerenveen

Heerenveen

1

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

3

Netherlands Eredivisie 06/04/25

W

NEC

NEC

0

Sparta Rotterdam

Sparta Rotterdam

2

It has been a barren start to the season for Arno Verscheuren – Photo by imago/Maurice van Steen

Player to watch: Arno Verschueren

Our player to watch coming into this one is Sparta's goalscoring midfielder, Arno Verschueren.

Verscheuren is actually yet to score this season, but has scored 19 goals over the last two seasons from midfield.

The Belgian has also racked up 1.94 xG, so we back him to break his duck and make a difference in this one.


William Evans is a football and politics fanatic. A first-class graduate of UEA's Broadcast and Digital Journalism MA course, he also achieved a first class degree in politics and media studies during his time at UEA.