Aiming to avoid a third consecutive defeat, Sparta Rotterdam will welcome Ajax to Het Kasteel on Saturday in the latest round of Eredivisie matches.
Ajax, meanwhile, will seek to preserve their unbeaten league record this term and bounce back from a disappointing European adventure in midweek.
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Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax prediction: Hard-fought victory for de Godenzonen
Key stats
- Ajax have gone six matches without a clean sheet, conceding a combined 11 goals during that span.
- This weekend's visitors have not won any of their last seven games on the road.
- Six of Sparta's last seven matches have produced three goals or more.
Correct score prediction: Sparta Rotterdam 1-3 Ajax
Ajax's seven league matches so far have produced a combined 21 goals at an average of three per game, and another high-scoring affair is on the cards here.
That said, we are backing the visitors to make light work of their hosts and come out on top in the end.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Ajax backed to end away drought
- HOME: 27/10 (3.70) – 27%
- DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6%
- AWAY: 17/20 (1.85) – 54.1%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Despite not having won away from home since April, Ajax are considerable favourites to emerge victorious here, with a win for the visitors priced at 17/20 (1.85).
Johnny Heitinga's men are back on the road for the second time in four days after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Olympique Marseille on Tuesday.
Off the back of defeats in their most recent two outings by a combined score of 9-1, Sparta have been given only a 27% chance of getting the job done this weekend.
After a 3-0 loss to Heracles last time out, Maurice Steijn's men will be hoping to bounce back in front of their fans.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Ajax unbeaten in 18
April's last meeting between Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax saw both teams score in second-half stoppage time as Youri Regeer netted in the 97th minute to cancel Mohamed Nassoh's strike two minutes earlier.
That denied Sparta what would have been a first win in 18 editions of this fixture, dating back to May 2009.
Netherlands Eredivisie 27/04/25
Ajax
Sparta Rotterdam
Netherlands Eredivisie 22/12/24
Sparta Rotterdam
Ajax
Netherlands Eredivisie 17/03/24
Sparta Rotterdam
Ajax
Netherlands Eredivisie 09/12/23
Ajax
Sparta Rotterdam
Netherlands Eredivisie 19/02/23
Ajax
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam preview: Shunsuke Mito the only guaranteed absentee
Mito has missed each of Sparta's last five matches with a knee injury he picked up in the 21st minute of August's clash against Utrecht.
The Japanese international is ruled out for Sunday's clash and is not expected back in action anytime soon.
Predicted lineup: Drommel(GK), Van Aanholt, Quintero, Young, Sambo, Kitolano, Clement, Toornstra, Ltaief, Lauritsen & Van Bergen
Sparta Rotterdam's last five matches:
- Heracles 3-0 Sparta Rotterdam (Eredivisie)
- Sparta Rotterdam 1-5 Twente (Eredivisie)
- Excelsior 0-1 Sparta Rotterdam (Eredivisie)
- Sparta Rotterdam 0-4 Feyenoord (Eredivisie)
- Go Ahead Eagles 0-3 Sparta Rotterdam (Eredivisie)
Ajax preview: Quick return to the treatment table for Wout Weghorst
After missing the 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven two Sundays ago, Weghorst made a brief seven-minute cameo against Breda but was absent from the defeat to Marseille.
Alongside fellow Dutchman Branco van den Boomen, the striker is out of contention for Ajax, while James McConnell misses out due to health issues.
Kasper Dolberg (abdominal strain) rounds off the list of confirmed injury concerns for the away side, but Youri Regeer could also miss out, having been subbed off midway through the first half in midweek.
Predicted lineup: Jaros(GK), Gaaei, Sutalo, Itakura, Wijndal, Klaassen, Taylor, Edvardsen, Gloukh, Godts & Konadu
Ajax's last five matches:
- Marseille 4-0 Ajax (Champions League)
- Ajax 2-1 NAC (Eredivisie)
- PSV 2-2 Ajax (Eredivisie)
- Ajax 0-2 Inter (Champions League)
- Ajax 3-1 Zwolle (Eredivisie)
Player to watch – Oscar Gloukh
After failing to score in his opening five Eredivisie outings, Gloukh has scored in each of his last two domestic outings, accounting for half of Ajax's four goals in that time.
The midfielder cut a peripheral figure as Ajax went down without a whimper against Marseille, but Saturday's visitors will back themselves to serve up an immediate response in Rotterdam.
With leading scorer Weghorst still missing, Ajax will need other attackers to step up, and Gloukh is more than capable of delivering the goods.