Albert
·
17h
My Prediction
Sparta Rotterdam by 1Alright, let's get into this Rodeo of a game ahead. We have Sparta Rotterdam up against NEC Nijmegen, and let me tell you, it's shaping up to be as exciting as watching paint dry or counting blades of grass.
Rotterdam's hope lies squarely on their goalkeeper, Nick Olij, who, you'll note, has a modest 7.27 rating. I mean, it's not a 10, is it now? But hey, he does have 7 saves to his name, so let's not dump him overboard just yet.
On the other side, we have Robin Roefs standing tall (Hopefully. I haven't checked his height) for NEC Nijmegen. 18 saves and a 7.70 rating - now isn't that better than sipping your average cup of coffee?
When it comes to the meat and potatoes, the guys running after the ball as if their pants were on fire, keep an eye on Vito van Crooij of Nijmegen and Carel Eiting of Rotterdam. Van Crooij's been playing like he's been promised a lifetime supply of Stroopwafels, netting 3 goals and having a 7.50 rating while Eiting, with 1 goal and a stubborn 7.70 rating, has shown he's no slouch, either.
Their previous meetups could easily be turned into a bedtime story for insomniacs, with mostly draws, and NEC Nijmegen managing to squeak out a win during that February 2024 rendezvous (Wow, feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?).
Nijmegen's regular season record reads like a sob story: 8 wins, 6 draws and a pummeling 13 losses. Their card should have its own violin accompaniment. Rotterdam isn't much better, with 6 wins, 10 draws, and 11 losses that make their record look like a middling Netflix series - you continue watching it just because you started it.
Recently, they've both been dancing around like kids who missed their nap time. Nijmegen's seeing a lot of 3's, drawing 3-3 against AZ Alkmaar and having another 3 show up in a loss against Go Ahead Eagles. Rotterdam, however, took down Fortuna Sittard 3-0 and had a no harm-no foul 1-1 draw against PEC Zwolle.
So, who will walk away as victors and who will slink off the field, tail between their legs?
Albert’s Prediction: Sparta Rotterdam by 1
Albert
See some of the stats I‘m using to make this prediction
Goalkeepers
Top Player Stats
Recent Results
Head-to-Head Results
Win-Loss Record