Excelsior vs Sparta – News and Probable Lineups

The second Rotterdam derby of the Eredivisie season is set to unfold at Stadion Woudestein this Saturday, with SBV Excelsior hosting Sparta Rotterdam on matchday four.

After suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord on the opening weekend, Sparta is on the hunt for a positive result at a venue where they celebrated victory 12 months ago, aiming for their fourth win in five encounters against the Kralingers from that period.

Match overview

Excelsior returns to Eredivisie action for the first time in two weeks since their tight 2-1 loss against PSV Eindhoven in mid-August.

Ruben den Uil’s side showed resilience after falling behind early, equalizing nine minutes into the second half, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the match.

However, the excitement was short-lived as Ricardo Pepi restored PSV’s lead in the 56th minute, ensuring the Eindhoven club would maintain their advantage until the final whistle.

Excelsior will have had a fortnight to reflect on that loss, having missed last weekend’s games due to NEC Nijmegen’s commitments in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

The Roodzwarten will be eager that the time off will serve them well in their quest for back-to-back victories in this fixture for the first time since 2023, following their 3-2 triumph over Sparta at the end of last season.

The victory was certainly unexpected, especially given that Den Uil’s team had experienced two consecutive losses—four defeats in their last five matches—but the Castle Lords were unable to secure a third victory in this matchup.

With Rogier Meijer now at the helm after taking over from Maurice Steijn, whose contract was not renewed following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, De Kasteelheren will be aiming for their sixth win against Excelsior since the start of 2023.

They enter this matchday in high spirits after an adrenaline-fueled 3-3 draw against FC Utrecht last weekend, where they came from behind on three occasions, ultimately equalizing in the 96th minute thanks to center-back Nick Verschuren.

The draw was deserved based on the overall performance and chances created by both teams, allowing Meijer’s side to extend their unbeaten streak in the league to two games, gradually bouncing back from their early-season defeat against local rivals Feyenoord.

They are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten run in the Eredivisie since March-April, and another match without defeat on Saturday would mark the first time since a seven-match streak from December to February 2026 that they have managed this feat, providing encouragement under the new management.

Team News

Kasey Bos has been out with a shoulder injury since completing his season-long loan from Mainz 05, and his status remains uncertain for Saturday’s match, along with that of David Garden, who came off early in the previous fixture against PSV two weeks ago.

Irakli Yegoian continues to be a pivotal player for the home side, having already been involved in three goals in two matches—providing two assists and scoring one himself—as he looks to deliver another standout performance for Den Uil’s squad.

For Sparta, Nokkvi Thorisson is the key attacking threat, entering Saturday’s clash aiming to add to his tally of one goal and one assist in three outings.

Shunsuke Mito remains a genuine game-changer in central areas, while Bas Kuipers adds value from the flanks, with both having contributed two assists each in this Eredivisie season so far.

Meijer reported no significant injury concerns from the match against Utrecht, providing the Castle Lords with a healthy squad heading into this weekend.

SBV Excelsior probable starting XI:

Van Gassel; Meissen, Widell, Plug, Janssen; Yegoian, Hartjes, Van Vianen; Sliti, Garden, Timas

Sparta Rotterdam probable starting XI:

Bed rack; Young, Verschuren, India; Martes, Mito, Baas, Kuipers; Van Cruijsen, Thorisson, Santos

Although Excelsior enters the derby well-rested with a fortnight off from competitive matches, Sparta Rotterdam’s attacking prowess makes them a formidable opponent at Stadion Woudestein.

With Mito and Kuipers consistently creating high-quality chances, Meijer’s squad is likely to have enough quality in the final third to prevail in what promises to be a fiercely contested match and secure local bragging rights.