Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax 13/09/20

13 September 2020

Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax go head-to-head at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel in the opening round of the 2020/21 Eredivisie fixtures. A high-scoring affair is well on the cards given all three of their previous top-flight H2Hs have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams score.

The hosts have endured mixed fortunes in the Eredivisie this calendar year (W3, D1, L4), with five of those eight fixtures seeing over 2.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet. Based on their performances in 2019/20, ‘De Kasteelheren’ are far more comfortable playing at home. In fact, 77.78% of their league triumphs last season arrived on home turf (7/9), as well as a clear majority (73.17%) of their total goals registered in the competition (30/41). However, Ajax’s visit completely changes this perspective. Henk Fraser’s men have lost all four of their previous top-flight H2Hs held at this venue, conceding over 2.5 goals on each of those occasions.

Meanwhile, none of Ajax’s seven Eredivisie matches this calendar year has ended in a draw (W4, L3), with four of those results (wins/losses) seeing the winner on the day keep a blank sheet. Erik ten Hag’s side won seven (58.33%) of their 12 league trips in 2019/20, though, they often did it with dignity. Indeed, 85.71% of their Eredivisie away wins last season yielded a full-time margin of at least two goals (6/7). Additionally, strong first-half performers, ‘de Godenzonen’ had found themselves trailing at half-time just twice in 12 top-flight trips the last term (HT: W4, D6, L2).