Sparta Rotterdam v Excelsior: winless hosts meet resurgent visitors in lower-half clash | OneFootball

Sparta Rotterdam host Excelsior in the Eredivisie on Sunday at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel, with the home side trying to halt a poor run while the visitors seek points to keep clear of the relegation play-off place.

Sparta Rotterdam sit 10th and won 1-0 away at Excelsior in September. Excelsior arrive 14th and within sight of teams above them, so the game carries clear positioning stakes in the lower half.

Form points to contrast. Sparta Rotterdam are winless in five league matches, including a heavy defeat at FC Twente last time out. Excelsior are unbeaten in three, with back to back wins over Utrecht and Groningen followed by a draw against Volendam.

Selection could matter. Sparta Rotterdam are without suspended centre back Bruno Martins Indi, while Mitchell Van Bergen, Said Bakari and Mike Kleijn are listed as injured. For Excelsior, Stan Henderikx and Miliano Jonathans are sidelined.

Routes to goal are well signposted. Tobias Lauritsen is Sparta Rotterdam's leading league scorer with 12, supported by Shunsuke Mito on seven. Excelsior have spread their 40 league goals, with Noah Naujoks on nine and Gyan de Regt supplying six assists. Sparta Rotterdam have kept 11 clean sheets but have also conceded 59, so Excelsior's crossing threat and eight headed goals could test the home defence, while the hosts' direct threat may trouble a back line that has shipped 54.

A win would move Sparta Rotterdam to 46 points and could lift them to ninth depending on other results. Excelsior would reach 38 points with victory, which could take them up to 13th and strengthen their cushion above the relegation play-off spot.