Spartavs.Willem II

Both teams will set out aiming to get themselves back on track, having been on the receiving end of respective defeats in their most recent involvements.

Match preview

Sparta Rotterdam went into a much-needed festive hiatus at the end of 2024 winless in each of their last 11 league matches, during which they managed just three points from a possible 33.

Maurice Steijn's men, however, made a bright start to 2025 with eight points from their first four games but have since lost consecutive games to Feyenoord and, most recently, Go Ahead Eagles on February 14.

Jakob Breum's solitary strike just past the half-hour mark was enough to put De Kasteelheren to the sword as they failed to find the back of the net for the second game running.

With 11 matches left before the current campaign elapses, Sparta are currently embroiled in a frenetic battle to preserve their top-flight status as they sit 16th in the Eredivisie table, four points shy of safety.

Having let in the fewest amount of goals of any bottom-half side, Sparta's attacking deficiencies have been their greatest undoing with just 19 strikes on the board so far across 23 matches.

A chance to improve on that now lies in waiting for Sunday's hosts against an opposing outfit on a run of six straight defeats in this fixture, including a 2-1 loss when the teams met for the first time this season some seven months ago.

Willem II's poor start to 2025 continued as they were comprehensively beaten 3-1 by Groningen when the teams squared up against each other at the Koning Willem II Stadion on February 15.

Having held the defending champions PSV Eindhoven to a 1-1 stalemate one week prior, Peter Maes's men were left chasing shadows after just 20 minutes, going behind to strikes from Dave Kwakman, Stije Resink and Tika de Jonge.

Following a run of just two points amassed across their most recent six outings, De Superkruiken have now been drawn into a relegation scrap from a position of relative comfort heading into the new year.

Sunday's game kicks off a crucial run of matches in March for the visitors, who will follow up this weekend's trip with clashes against FC Utrecht, Go Ahead Eagles and Almere City.

Off the back of nine goals conceded from their last three away matches, Willem II must get their act together from a defensive standpoint to stand any chance of leaving Rotterdam with a positive result.

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

D

D

W

W

L

L

Willem II Eredivisie form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Team News

Joel Ideho has missed each of Sparta Rotterdam's last four matches and remains a major doubt for this weekend's encounter alongside fellow Dutchman Gjivai Zechiel.

Patrick van Aanholt lasted just 26 minutes in his side's most recent outing as he had to be subbed off with an injury, leaving his availability for the home side currently uncertain.

Boris Lambert received his fifth yellow card of the campaign last time out and will serve a one-game suspension as a result, ruling him out of contention for Willem II here.

The away side will also take to the field without the services of Dani Mathieu, who has not featured since a pre-season friendly against Dordrecht back in July 2024.

Amine Lachkar is yet to fully recuperate from an ankle injury, although the 21-year-old is edging increasingly closer towards returning to action.

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Olij; Quintero, Eerdhuijzen, Young, Bakari; Eiting, Nassoh; Mito, Hlynsson, Van Bergen; Lauritsen

Willem II possible starting lineup:

Didillon; St Jago, Schouten, Behounek, Tirpan; Kaygin, Bosch; Fatah, Meerveld, Sandra; Vaesen

We say: Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 Willem II

Sparta have gotten the better of this fixture more often than not in recent years and will be confident of coming out on top once again.

Written by

Adepoju Marvellous

Previews by email