Highlighted: Sparta head into Rotterdam derby full of confidence
Sparta Rotterdam have developed into a defensively solid side under head coach Maurice Steijn in recent months, with young players increasingly being given their chance. This Sunday brings the Rotterdam derby against city rivals Feyenoord. Can the Kasteelheren pick up a point away at De Kuip for the first time since October 2020? Or will Feyenoord claim all three points for the first time since 6 December?
Leaders in clean sheets
Last Sunday, Sparta Rotterdam recorded a 2–0 victory over Heracles Almelo. It marked the seventh time this season that the Spartans kept a clean sheet. An impressive achievement: with seven clean sheets, goalkeeper Joël Drommel has kept his goal intact more often than any other keeper in the Eredivisie. Timon Wellenreuther (Feyenoord) and Etienne Vaessen (FC Groningen) follow with six clean sheets each. Notably, Drommel has already kept more clean sheets this season (7) than Nick Olij managed across the entire previous Eredivisie campaign for Sparta (6).
Sparta also allowed just six shots and 0.4 Expected Goals against (xGA) in the match against Heracles Almelo. It was their lowest xGA figure since March last year. In the final fixture before the winter break, Sparta also kept a clean sheet against FC Volendam and can now aim to record three consecutive league shutouts for the first time since January 2023 (when they managed four in a row).
One caveat: the last time Sparta kept a clean sheet away at Feyenoord dates back 42 years. On 21 April 1984, the Rotterdam derby at De Kuip ended goalless (0–0). Can Joël Drommel change that this weekend?
Sparta in strong form since October 2025
As with all derbies, the Rotterdam derby is a game in its own right, but which side goes into it with the stronger form? Based purely on the league table, Feyenoord would appear to have the upper hand. With 36 points from 18 matches, Robin van Persie’s side sit sixth, while Sparta Rotterdam are just below them on 26 points from the same number of games: a gap of ten points between the city rivals.
However, when looking at recent form, the picture changes. Since the October international break, only PSV (30 points) and Ajax (17) have collected more points in the Eredivisie than Maurice Steijn’s Sparta. With 16 points from 10 matches, Sparta sit joint-third over that period alongside N.E.C. Nijmegen, who reached the same tally from nine games. Feyenoord trail further back, with two points fewer than Sparta (14).
Defensively, Sparta have been the standout side in this spell, conceding just nine goals – the fewest of any club in the Eredivisie. At the other end of the pitch, however, they have also scored the fewest, with nine goals. Feyenoord have been far more prolific going forward (26 goals), but have also been less secure at the back, conceding 17 times.
| # | Team | Matches | Points | Goals | Goals against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
PSV |
10 |
30 |
32 |
11 |
|
2 |
Ajax |
10 |
17 |
18 |
14 |
|
3 |
N.E.C. |
9 |
16 |
21 |
15 |
|
4 |
Sparta |
10 |
16 |
9 |
9 |
|
5 |
Heerenveen |
10 |
15 |
19 |
15 |
|
6 |
Feyenoord |
10 |
14 |
26 |
17 |
Young players
Sparta have largely achieved this with young talent developed within their own academy. Forward Ayoub Oufkir earned himself an impressive move to AZ with his performances, while central defender Marvin Young (20) played his way into the team last season and has since become a permanent fixture at the heart of the defence. His rise was rewarded, among other honours, with the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month award in March.
This season, Young is the only player aged 21 or under to have contested at least 100 individual duels (132) while winning 60 per cent or more of them (61.3%). In the previous matchday, right-back Lushendry Martes (17 years and 250 days at the time) made his first league start, becoming Sparta Rotterdam’s youngest starter in the Eredivisie since Emmanuel Emegha in October 2020 (17 years, 244 days).
Marvin Young is niet meer uit de basis weg te denken. De verdediger won in maart vorig jaar al de prijs Johan Cruijff Talent van de Maand.
Feyenoord favourites based on history
Sparta’s current form will undoubtedly provide confidence ahead of the upcoming derby against Feyenoord, but the historical record offers far less encouragement. Sparta have lost nine of their last eleven meetings with Feyenoord across all competitions (two draws), failing to score in eight of those matches (four goals in total).
Their most recent victory dates back to March 2017 (1–0), while their last win at De Kuip came on 26 March 2000 (1–2). In addition, only NAC Breda and Heracles Almelo have collected fewer points this season against teams currently in the top half of the table (three) than Sparta Rotterdam (four – W1, D1, L6).
In Spangen, however, there is a growing sense that it is time for another win over Feyenoord, and recent form certainly offers hope. Will Lennart Thy finally be removed from the record books as the last Sparta player to score away at Feyenoord? Find out this Sunday as Feyenoord vs Sparta Rotterdam kicks off at 16:45, live on your broadcaster (click here).
