Sparta Rotterdam host Ajax at Het Kasteel on 25 October 2026 for Eredivisie Round 10. Sparta sit 13th with nine points from nine games while Ajax are fourth on 18. The gap is wide and Sparta at least collected a 3-2 win over Willem II on 17 October to end a run of back to back defeats, though their overall record leaves them with very little margin for error.
Rogier Meijer took charge at Sparta in July 2026 after replacing Maurice Steijn and has organised his side into a disciplined defensive unit, whereas Míchel arrived at Ajax a month earlier after replacing Oscar García. The two coaches have barely crossed paths in competitive football, so there is no head to head pattern worth reading into.
Sparta's last five reads W-D-L-L-D, pointing to a side that picks up points in patches but cannot hold a run together, whereas Ajax come in on W-D-D-W-W having hammered Groningen 5-2 away most recently.
Meijer is without Shunsuke Mito through injury and Max de Ligt may not make the squad at all, both absences hurting a side that loses a meaningful attacking outlet when Mito is unavailable. Ajax's casualty list is longer: Steven Berghuis is out with a groin problem, Caio Henrique misses through a thigh or hip issue, Anton Gaaei is sidelined with a knee injury, Kasper Dolberg won't return until around July 2027 after an ACL tear and Daley Blind is absent with a back problem.
Sparta defend in a 5 4 1 block, the midfield four holding compact lines while the shape invites pressure before looking to release Milan Zonneveld in behind. Zonneveld already has six league goals and is Sparta's likeliest route to anything here, with Bas Kuipers the primary delivery option from dead balls and Zonneveld having converted from that route before. Isaac Babadi drives the ball into the press and Jens Toornstra dictates tempo with short passing, though without Mito's runs as an outlet Toornstra may find himself pulled deeper than Meijer would like.
Ajax operate in a fluid 4 3 3 or 4 2 3 1 with Julian Brandt the standout performer this season, six goals from midfield and attacking positions. Oscar Gloukh moves cleverly through the centre, finding pockets between the lines and Jorthy Mokio brings ball carrying energy from deeper areas. With Berghuis, Dolberg and Blind all absent, Gloukh and Mokio carry more of the creative burden and if Gloukh drifts into the half spaces and forces Sparta's wing backs to step up, the shape behind them opens.
Meijer's 5 4 1 has to hold its shape for ninety minutes. The moment Sparta's midfield four splits to chase, Brandt has the space he needs between the lines. Force Ajax into low percentage crossing and Kuipers and the central defenders have a chance to clear and release Zonneveld. Should Ajax win the ball high up the pitch, the space behind Sparta's wing backs becomes the problem Meijer needs to solve.
Ajax have won nine of the last twelve meetings with Sparta, who have not won any of them and drawn only three. Ajax won 4-0 in March 2026 and the two shared a 3-3 at Het Kasteel in October 2025. Sparta's best realistic path runs through a set piece or a Zonneveld counter before half time, after which they would need to defend from deep for the remaining forty five minutes.
Ajax to win 2-1. Zonneveld's movement in behind gives Sparta a chance of scoring but Brandt's movement between the lines and Ajax's speed once they win the ball back means Sparta will need to defend perfectly for ninety minutes and their form says they won't.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
