Preview: Ajax vs. Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

Ajax head into Sunday's Eredivisie fixture with Sparta Rotterdam looking to extend their winning streak in the division to seven matches.

Meanwhile, Sparta have dropped down to 12th position after putting together a run of five games without success.

Match preview

© Reuters

When trailing 1-0 at Lille on Thursday night, Erik ten Hag would have been left ruing the administration error which prevented him from fielding Sebastien Haller.

However, two late goals in that Europa League fixture extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 14 matches, a run which started on the back of three successive defeats.

There is little doubting that January arrival Haller has helped Ajax turn a corner, but the Dutch giants are now performing like a team who feel that they can add a European crown to their continued dominance on the domestic scene.

More games are scheduled to come in quick succession, including a trip to main rivals PSV Eindhoven just three days after the second leg versus Lille.

Nevertheless, Ten Hag has the confidence to rotate his players when he deems it to be necessary, an important trait when managing the club's fixture list over the course of the season.

With Ajax's attention being elsewhere this week, Sparta boss Henk Fraser will feel that his team have a good opportunity to take advantage of any tiredness in the hosts' squad.

Fraser would need to see significant improvements from his own players, however, as they look to end a run of two draws and three defeats since January 16.

The previous return of six wins from nine games means that Sparta are likely to avoid any kind of a relegation battle, a scenario that Fraser and his squad would have taken when failing to prevail in any of their first seven games.

Although Sparta can play with a sense of freedom in a fixture where they are heavy underdogs, Fraser will want to see his squad adopt the right mentality ahead of four successive games against teams featuring in the bottom five.

Ajax Eredivisie form: WWWWWW
Ajax form (all competitions): WWWWWW

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form: WLLDDL

Team News

© Reuters

Haller and Perr Schuurs are expected to be among the players who are drafted back into the Ajax XI.

Devyne Rensch could also feature at right-back with Noussair Mazraoui remaining as a doubt through injury, but Thursday's hero Brian Brobbey is likely to be named on the substitutes' bench.

Despite Sparta's recent defeat to Fortuna Sittard, the eight-day break may encourage Fraser to stick with the same starting lineup.

Mario Engels and Wouter Burger are both options for Fraser if he opts to freshen up his team, with Tim Coremans the only confirmed absentee from the squad.

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg; Rensch, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Alvarez, R.Gravenberch; Antony, Klaassen, Tadic; Haller

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Abels, Beugelsdijk, Heylen, Pinto; Auassar, L.Duarte; Harroui, Thy, D.Duarte; D.Gravenberch

We say: Ajax 3-1 Sparta Rotterdam

The short turnaround for Ajax will give Sparta hope that they can achieve an unlikely result on Sunday evening. Nevertheless, we expect a strong performance from the home side, who can only be on a high after the dramatic conclusion against Lille.