The hosts are heading into the match on the back of a 3-1 win over Excelsior in a friendly last Saturday, while Sparta Rotterdam got the better of FC Emmen with a similar scoreline on the same day.
Heerenveen will host Sparta Rotterdam in the opening match of the 2022-23 Eredivisie campaign at the abe Lenstra stadion on Friday night. The hosts are heading into the match on the back of a 3-1 win over Excelsior in a friendly last Saturday, while Sparta Rotterdam got the better of FC Emmen with a similar scoreline on the same day. Heerenveen finished 8th in the Dutch top flight table last term, with 41 points from 34 games, 42 points adrift of the champions Ajax, while the visitors finished at the 15th place in the 2021-22 Eredivisie standings with 35 points, just one point clear of the drop zone.
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— sc Heerenveen (@scHeerenveen) August 5, 2022
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Heerenveen had an impressive pre-season winning three of their five friendlies, while one of them ended in a defeat and one in a draw. In their last match against newly promoted Excelsior, the Super Frisians secured the win courtesy of goals in either halves from Joost van Aken either side of Amin Sarr’s strike. This summer, in five friendlies, Johnny Jensen’s side found the back of the net 10 times while conceding just four goals. Sparta Rotterdam, on the other hand, got the better of FC Emmen last weekend, courtesy of a first half brace from Vito van Crooij and a second half strike from Mario Engles. The Castle Lords recorded six wins and one defeat from their seven friendlies this summer.
Heerenveen striker Van Hooijdonk is expected to partner Sarr up front, while Tahiri, Haye and Kohlert could form the midfield-trio. As for Sparta Rotterdam, former Arsenal-man Omar Rekik is in line to make his debut for the new club. Last game’s double-goal hero Van Crooy could lead the line alongside Lauritsen. Meanwhile Abels, Verschueren and Vriends could form the back-three.
Heerenveen probable starting lineup: Noppert; Bochniewicz, Kaib, Van Aken, Van Beek, Ven Ewijk; Tahiri, Haye, Kohlert; Sarr, Van Hooijdonk
Sparta Rotterdam probable starting lineup: Olij; Abels, Verschueren, Vriends; Aussar, De Guzman, Eyenga-Lokilo, Meijers, Namli; Lauritsen, Van Crooy
The Eredivisie match between Heerenveen and Sparta Rotterdam will take place at Abe Lenstra Stadium on Friday at 11:30 pm IST.
Heerenveen vs Sparta Rotterdam | Key details |
Date | August 5 |
Venue | Abe Lenstra Stadium |
Kickoff time in Netherlands | 8:00 pm |
Kickoff time in India | 11:30 pm |
For the football fans in the Netherlands, live coverage of Eredivisie matches are available on ESPN 2.