Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax Prediction & Betting Tips - Eredivisie

Prediction published on 17/08/2022, 06:02  by Ioannis | Modified on 17/08/2022 at 06:02 in Eredivisie Predictions

Sparta Rotterdam face off against Ajax at the Het Kasteel for the third round of the Dutch Eredivisie. The Rotterdam side did not start the campaign in the best possible way. After drawing their opener against Heerenveen, they lost 3-2 at home against AZ Alkmaar. Sparta finished last season on a high note, ending the league unbeaten in their last four games to eventually finish just a point above the relegation places, yet it looks like they might be in the thick of it this year as well, with the early signs not being the most encouraging. Their mission only gets tougher from here on, as they host Dutch giants Ajax, against whom they have lost their last eleven games, not even managing to score in five of those. 

The managerial change of Erik Ten Haag looks like it hasn’t derailed Ajax so far, with the first signs under the former Club Brugge coach Alfred Schreuder being highly encouraging. After being thrashed and conceding five goals against PSV for the Dutch Super Cup, Ajax kicked off the league with two wins in two, dismantling Groningen 6-1 in their last game and having scored a staggering twelve times in their three competitive games of the season so far. The key issue that needs to be fixed if Ajax wants to fight on all fronts once again is the defence. Under Ten Haag last season, Ajax boasted the best defence of the division, conceding just nineteen times in their thirty-four games. However, this season they have already let in six in their three games played. They tend to perform well against Sparta however, having kept clean sheets in their last two visits in Rotterdam.