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Fresh from securing their first Conference League win of the season, Ajax return to action in the Eredivisie when they take on Sparta Rotterdam at Het Kasteel on Sunday. Rogier Meijer’s men, meanwhile, will be out to secure a second consecutive home win and finally end a 17-year hoodoo against the Amsterdam outfit.
Read our Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax preview, prediction and betting tips below, while you can also find more of our expert predictions on today's betting tips page.
Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax key stats
- Ajax are on a 20-game unbeaten streak against Sparta Rotterdam, picking up 16 wins and four draws since a 4-0 defeat in May 2009.
- Sparta Rotterdam have failed to win seven of their last eight Eredivisie home matches, losing four and claiming three draws since April.
- Ajax are unbeaten in their last eight Eredivisie away games, picking up six wins and two draws since a 3-1 loss against Groningen on March 7.
Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax: Can Rotterdam snap 17-year Ajax hoodoo this weekend?
Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax — Tale of the Tape
| Sparta Rotterdam | vs | Ajax |
|---|---|---|
| 13th | Position | 4th |
| 9 | Points | 18 |
| 16 | Goals For | 27 |
| 12 | Goals Against | 12 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 2 |
| 9th | Home / Away Rank | 2nd |
After weeks of mediocre results, Sparta Rotterdam turned in a resilient team display last Saturday when they fought back from behind to see out a 3-2 victory over Willem II Tilburg and record their first home win of the season.
After falling behind to Tony Vilhena’s 17th-minute opener, Jens Toorntra levelled matters going into half time with a 39th-minute strike, before Lushendry Edward Martes and Milan Zonneveld in a seven-minute spell to turn the game on its head.
This result eased up a difficult spell in the league for Sparta Rotterdam, who had failed to win their previous six matches, losing three and claiming three draws while conceding 18 goals and scoring 10 across the six games.
Meijer’s side have picked up two wins from their opening nine Eredivisie matches while losing four and claiming three draws to collect nine points and sit 13th in the league table, level on points with 14th-placed Cambuur.
While Sparta Rotterdam will look to make it two wins from two at Het Kasteel and climb away from the lower reaches of the table, next up is the daunting challenge of an opposing side they have failed to get the better of in their last 20 attempts since May 2009.
Having suffered a 2-1 opening-day defeat to Hajduk Split in the Conference League on October 15, Ajax made an impressive response in Europa on Thursday when they edged out Italian outfit Atalanta 2-0 on home turf.
In a one-sided affair at the Johan Cruijff Arena, the hosts were repaired for their large spell of sustained pressure, with Tolu Arokodare and Abdellah Ouazane netting in the final six minutes to leave Atalanta empty-handed.
Ajax now turn their sights to the Eredivisie, where they made it five consecutive matches without defeat (3W 2D) last weekend with a thrilling 5-2 victory over Groningen at Euroborg Stadium courtesy of Aaron Bouwman’s 37th-minute effort and two goals each from Julian Brandt and Jorthy Mokio.
Michel’s men have picked up five wins and three draws from their nine Eredivisie games so far to collect 18 points and sit fourth in the league table, but they could rise into second place with all three points this weekend.
Central to Ajax’s impressive start to the season has been the solid job done at the attacking end of the pitch, having netted 27 goals so far — only league leaders Feyenoord (31) boast a higher tally.
Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax form guide & betting tips
| Sparta Rotterdam | vs | Ajax |
|---|---|---|
| DLLDW | Eredivisie Form | WWDDW |
| 13th | Form table | 2nd |
| 5 | Points | 11 |
| 9 | Goals For | 18 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 7 |
| DLLDW | Form (All Comps) | DDLWW |
Whispers’ prediction: Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax
While Sparta Rotterdam secured a morale-boosting home win last time out, Ajax boast a superior and more experienced squad on paper, and their historical advantage also has Michel’s men well placed to come out on top, which is currently priced at 11/25 (1.44) by the bookmakers.
Five of the last seven meetings between the two teams have seen at least three goals scored, making over 2.5 goals at 9/25 (1.36) a favourable punt, while HT/FT – 2/2 at 21/20 (2.05) is our third pick of the game.
We also fancy BTTS – Yes at 1/2 (1.50), with Ajax managing just one clean sheet in their last eight matches, while the correct score market has a correct score of 1-3 at 10/1 (11.00).
> BTTS – Yes at 1/2 (1.50) | Likelihood: Possible
> HT/FT – 2/2 at 21/20 (2.05) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: 1-3 at 10/1 (11.00) | Likelihood: Outsider