Sparta Rotterdam v Heerenveen: play-off push meets top-half climb | OneFootball

Sparta Rotterdam host Heerenveen in the Eredivisie at Het Kasteel on Sunday, 14 December 2025, with three points between the sides and a chance to edge towards the qualification play-off picture.

Sparta Rotterdam sit ninth on 20 points, while Heerenveen are 12th with 17. The hosts won the last meeting 3-1 in April 2025, after Heerenveen had taken the reverse fixture 2-0 in October 2024.

Form is mixed on both sides. Sparta have taken four points from their last three league games, beating NAC Breda 1-0 after a run of draws and defeats in November. Heerenveen's last five show one win, one draw and three losses, though that victory was a notable 3-1 against AZ.

Squad-wise, Sparta Rotterdam list injuries for Bruno Martins Indi, Joshua Kitolano, Sayfallah Ltaief and Ayoni Santos. Heerenveen are without Levi Smans.

Routes to goal could hinge on the leading scorers. Tobias Lauritsen has seven league goals for Sparta Rotterdam, while Dylan Vente has six for Heerenveen, with support from Jacob Trenskow on four. Season numbers point to opportunities at both ends. Sparta have scored 17 and conceded 28 with five clean sheets, whereas Heerenveen have scored 23 and conceded 26 but are yet to keep a clean sheet. With Heerenveen averaging 51% possession and Sparta Rotterdam 45%, the visitors may see more of the ball, while the hosts could look to play more directly.

A home win would move Sparta Rotterdam to 23 points and could haul them into the qualification play-off conversation. Victory for Heerenveen would take them to 20 points and could lift them into the top half, easing pressure near the bottom.