Eredivisie
Sparta Rotterdam - FC Groningen
01/31/2026, 08:00 PM
Expected Goals
1.5
3.3
1.8
Model Probabilities
Match Result
Home Win
32%
Draw
29%
Away Win
39%
Goals
Over 1.5
85%
Over 2.5
65%
Over 3.5
42%
Double Chance
Home or Draw
61%
Away or Draw
68%
No Draw
71%
Both Score
Yes
68%
No
32%
Key Factors
- Sparta Rotterdam is in outstanding form with four consecutive wins, while Groningen has been more inconsistent
- Sparta's weak home defense (2.0 goals conceded per game) faces a solid away attack from Groningen (1.44 goals scored per game)
- The historical record clearly favors Sparta Rotterdam with 4 wins in 5 matches and a 10:2 goal difference
Risk Factors
- Strong data contradiction: Sparta's historical H2H dominance contrasts with Groningen's better season statistics
- The goal forecast (over 3 goals expected) contradicts the venue's history, which is considered low-scoring with only 1.8 goals per game
Overview
Sparta Rotterdam (6th place, 32 points) hosts FC Groningen (8th place, 31 points) at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel. This Eredivisie match on January 31, 2026, at 9:00 PM features two direct table neighbors separated by just one point, promising a tight contest in the battle for the top spots.
Form
Sparta Rotterdam: LWWWW - 4 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss. The home team is in excellent form, having won their last four consecutive matches.
FC Groningen: WDDWL - 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. The visitors show more mixed results but have managed to secure points in most of their last five games.
(W = Win, D = Draw, L = Loss)
Statistics
Offensively, FC Groningen scores slightly more on average this season (1.4 per game) than Sparta Rotterdam (1.25). Groningen is particularly dangerous away, scoring 1.44 goals per game. Defensively, Groningen is significantly more stable, conceding only 1.2 goals per game, while Sparta is more vulnerable with 1.7 goals against, especially at home (2.0 goals against). Sparta has kept 8 clean sheets, Groningen 7.
Head-to-Head
In the last 5 encounters, Sparta Rotterdam has a dominant record with 4 wins compared to just one for FC Groningen. There have been no draws. The goal difference of 10:2 also clearly favors Sparta. The last meeting was won 2-0 by Sparta away from home.
Key Players
For Sparta Rotterdam, Tobias Lauritsen is the key man in attack with 9 season goals and 3 assists. Joshua Kitolano supports him with 5 goals and 2 assists. For FC Groningen, Brynjólfur Willumsson is the top scorer with 6 goals, while Stije Resink plays a central role in midfield with 4 goals and 5 assists. Thom van Bergen has also contributed with 4 goals and 3 assists.
Goalkeepers
Joël Drommel is the first-choice goalkeeper for Sparta Rotterdam, having played in 20 matches this season. For FC Groningen, Etienne Vaessen is in goal, with 17 appearances. Sparta has kept 8 clean sheets so far, while Groningen has managed 7.
Influences
Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel has recently been a low-scoring venue, with an average of just 1.8 goals in the last five games. Sparta Rotterdam has a balanced record on their home artificial turf (4 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses). FC Groningen won their only previous match on artificial turf.