Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Eredivisie match.
An unexpected slip by PSV Eindhoven in the last round has reignited hopes among Ajax fans of rekindling their title challenge. In their upcoming encounter against Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax are anticipated to attack their opponent's penalty area early on, as it's crucial for the capital club to close the gap on their main rivals, who might falter again in the next round.
Sparta Rotterdam
Last Sunday, Sparta Rotterdam halted a run of five consecutive defeats with a draw against NEC Nijmegen (1:1). This result, however, did little to lift them out of the relegation play-off zone, where they have been stuck due to a lacklustre attack, managing just 14 goals in 16 matches—the second-worst scoring record in the league. Midweek, Sparta were eliminated from the KNVB Cup by Go Ahead Eagles (1:2 after a penalty shootout), a loss that not only drained their physical energy but could also impact their morale.
Ajax
Ajax, under their new coaching staff, are surpassing pre-season expectations. They are in the top three of the Eredivisie for both goals scored (35) and goals conceded (16). Their recent victory over Almere City (3:0) was a testament to their ability to efficiently convert chances against lower-ranked teams (1.32–0.07 in xG and 14–4 in shots). Special focus is on Ajax's seasoned players, with Davy Klaassen (6+2) and Wout Weghorst (6+1) ranked among the top 10 scorers in the league.
Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax Prediction
Until March of this year, Sparta Rotterdam had been defeated by Ajax in 14 consecutive head-to-head meetings. The gap between the teams is substantial once again, making Ajax clear favourites to claim victory.
