- Team form: Sparta are in the middle of the table at 12th place in Eredivisie 2026-2027, having earned 9 points from their opening 9 matches. They have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 2 in their last 5 matches.
- Opposition form: AFC Ajax are the favorites, sitting 4th place in Eredivisie 2026-2027 on 18 points, also after 9 matches. They have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 in their last 5 contests.
Ajax favored to win open game at Het Kasteel
Sparta Rotterdam have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their 5 games at Het Kasteel so far this season and they have conceded 12 goals in those outings, which is an average of 2.40 per match, which suggests they'll be vulnerable at the back on Sunday. The Kasteelheren have struggled to beat the top teams in Dutch soccer, as shown by their lack of a win in their last 3 games against De Godenzonen, which includes a 4-0 defeat to Sunday's visitors at home in Eredivisie 2025/2026.
Sparta are in reasonable form with 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses in their last 5 Eredivisie games, however, they were held to a 3-3 draw away at Go Ahead Eagles before bouncing back with a 3-2 win over Willem II at home, so we can expect the Sparta attack to be on the front foot at the very least.
Ajax have been ruthless on the road
Tactical battle
Rogier Meijer has found a setup at Sparta where he can move from his traditional 4-2-3-1 to 3-1-5-1, which allows his players to switch up their style of play at the touch of a button. The ball moves quickly from the back and they press high to win possession back immediately. A big clash of styles will ensue at Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Sunday, with Michel's Ajax favouring a possession-first 4-3-3, a high tempo and coordinated high pressing game, designed to suffocate teams and control games through their movement and coordination.
Players to watch
- Milan Zonneveld leads the scoring for Sparta in Eredivisie 2026/2027 with 4 goals in 7 appearances and is currently their best chance of getting on the scoresheet again, with 4 of his goals coming in their last 5 outings.
- Julian Brandt is the most likely Ajax goal scorer for Sunday's game, having scored 4 goals in Eredivisie 2026-2027 in 7 appearances, he is their sharpest finisher and will be a constant threat when moving from midfield into attacking areas.
Prediction & odds
Ajax have won 4 of their 4 Eredivisie away games in 2026-2027, so we must respect their odds for the away win at 1.44 and Sparta are 5.75 for the win, with the draw at 4.9. There is an advantage in the head-to-head for De Godenzonen, who have won 1 of the last 3 meetings and drawn the other 2. However, we'll back Ajax at 1.44 to take all three points in Rotterdam.
