The big picture

Sparta Rotterdam come in 12th on the ladder with 12 points; NEC Nijmegen are 11th on 14. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.

Sparta Rotterdam are 3–5–3 in Eredivisie 2026-27, averaging 1.8 goals for and 2.4 against.

NEC Nijmegen are 2–4–5 in Eredivisie 2026-27, averaging 1.5 goals for and 1.7 against.

Form

Sparta Rotterdam have won two of their last five and most recently beat FC Groningen 3–2.

NEC Nijmegen have won two of their last five and most recently beat Omonia Nicosia 3–1.

Head to head

These sides have met 10 times on our records since 2021: Sparta Rotterdam 2, NEC Nijmegen 2, 6 drawn.

Last time out (2025-26), it was a draw 1–1 at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel.

Biggest margin between these two: Sparta Rotterdam by 2 goals in 2024-25 (2–0).

Players to watch

For Sparta Rotterdam, watch Milan Zonneveld (0.6 goals a game, 1 assist in 2026-27) and Marvin Young (0.2 goals a game, 1 assist in 2026-27).

For NEC Nijmegen, watch Tjaronn Chery (0.4 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026-27) and Adam Tahaui (0.2 goals a game in 2026-27).

At Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel

Sparta Rotterdam have won 6 of their last 21 at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel.

What the numbers say

On the numbers this is too close to split.