Feyenoord make the trip to Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday knowing that they can move a step closer to winning the Eredivisie title.
The leaders sit six points clear with eight matches remaining, but Sparta head into this contest occupying sixth position in the standings.
Match preview
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Given Ajax's standing in Dutch football, there is an assumption in some quarters that they will ultimately come out on top in the Eredivisie title race.
However, that belief is doing Feyenoord a disservice, proven by the manner in which Arne Slot's side overturned a half-time deficit to beat the defending champions 3-2 on away territory before the international break.
Despite facing the prospect of being level on points at one stage, Feyenoord now sit six points clear without a top-five team on the league schedule for the rest of the season.
In the long term, Feyenoord are now 19 matches unbeaten, but it is the current six-match winning streak which could make the difference at the end of the campaign.
Feyenoord have come from behind in three of those fixtures, although Slot will feel that Sunday's match is arguably their most difficult left on the calendar.
There have been times this season when Sparta have looked nothing more than a mid-table club, particularly between the middle of January through to the end of February.
Since then, though, three wins in succession have been posted versus Excelsior, Vitesse and Emmen, keeping Maurice Steijn's team in contention for European qualification.
A place in the playoffs is pretty much agiven, yet Steijn will be determined to retain their current momentum heading into the final phase of the season.
Although Feyenoord possess the second-best away record in the division, Sparta have posted the fourth-best return in home fixtures, collecting 26 points from 13 games.
Team News
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Oussama Idrissi is missing for Feyenoord this weekend courtesy of collecting his fifth yellow card last time out.
Javairo Dilrosun appears most likely to deputise on the left flank, but Slot faces further issues with an injury to Lutsharel Geertruida and a knee problem for Sebastian Szymanski.
Marcus Pedersen is in line to play at right-back, while Mohamed Taabouni could make a rare start if Szymanski misses out.
Barring any injury issues, Steijen could select the same Sparta XI which started the victory at Emmen before the international break.
Jonathan de Guzman, who has not featured since the beginning of March, is again expected to be sidelined for this fixture, but Adil Auassar is back after suspension.
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Sambo, Vriends, Eerdhuijzen, Pinto; Muilem, Kitolano; Van Crooij, Verschueren, Saito; Lauritsen
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Pedersen, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman; Wieffer, Szymanski, Kokcu; Jahanbakhsh, Gimenez, Dilrosun
We say: Sparta Rotterdam 1-3 Feyenoord
On the back of three straight wins, Sparta will fancy their chances of making their mark in the title race this weekend. However, Feyenoord's comeback in Amsterdam cannot be ignored, and we are backing the visitors to come through in an entertaining fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
