Ajax Reserves vs Sparta Rotterdam Predictions

Rampant victories over Almere City and Jong AZ in the past fortnight have taken Sparta Rotterdam back to the top of the Eerste Divisie table, but they’ll need to pass a difficult test this Friday if they’re to stay at the head of affairs over Christmas. Sparta visit Amsterdam to face a Jong Ajax side who have won their last three league games, and who will be keen to prove their worth as defending champions against one of the sides seeking to claim that mantle this season.

The goals dried up for Sparta Rotterdam between match days 14 and 16 as they managed just two draws from games against NEC (1-1), Jong PSV (0-0) and Helmond Sport (3-0), but Henk Fraser’s side have really hit back over the last fortnight with a pair of crushing wins against Almere City and Jong AZ.

Sparta hammered City 6-1 at home on match day 17 as Eerste Divisie top scorer Lars Veldwijk smashed in a hat-trick, and Mohamed Rayhi achieved the same feat last Friday to inspire the Rotterdam outfit to another resounding success at Het Kasteel – this time a 5-0 drubbing of Jong AZ.

With fellow title challengers Go Ahead Eagles and Den Bosch playing out a 0-0 stalemate in Deventer, Sparta moved back to the top of the league and they hold a one point advantage going into the final round of fixtures before Christmas.

But with Go Ahead likely to beat RKC in Waalwijk this weekend and Den Bosch also fancying their chances of success at home to Roda JC, Sparta will probably have to land the spoils here against Jong Ajax to remain in pole position over the festive period – and that doesn’t look the easiest of tasks on the evidence of the past few weeks.

Jong Ajax have improved markedly since the end of November, when their three match winning sequence began with a comprehensive 2-5 victory against 4^th placed Twente at De Grolsch Veste. They followed up that result by beating 6^th placed Oss 1-0 here at Sportpark De Toekomst on match day 17, and kept momentum going with a battling 2-3 win at Almere City last Friday.

Michael Reiziger’s side will be keen to prolong their form and end 2018 on the highest of notes by beating the current leaders, and it’s understandable that they’re marginal favourites here based on their recent results, strong home record and Sparta’s inconsistency on the road.

Jong have won six of their eight league matches in Amsterdam this term, whilst Sparta have won just two of their eight away fixtures, drawing four and losing two.

Indeed, Sparta have collected just 10 of their 38 points outside of Rotterdam, and they’re not generally a team to get behind when on their travels, despite the fact they’re top of the league.

Jong have yet to lose at home to Sparta in three previous meetings at Sportpark De Toekomst, and we feel that trend will continue here, but a draw does seem the most likely result between the pair.

The sides drew 1-1 the last time they met here in the 2015/16 campaign, and we’re opting for the same score line this Friday. Although Sparta tend to put their best foot forward at Het Kasteel, they’ll be determined to go into Christmas on top of the league and they have the quality to halt Jong’s run by gaining an important point.