Sparta vs Utrecht – News and Probable Lineups

FC Utrecht is determined to put an end to their winless run as they head to Het Kasteel to face Sparta Rotterdam, aiming to reverse their poor start to the Eredivisie season.

Having faced disappointing defeats against Groningen and AZ Alkmaar in their opening fixtures of the 2026-27 campaign, Utrecht looks to turn things around this Saturday.

Match overview

After suffering a loss to their Rotterdam rivals on the first day of the season, Rogier Meijer achieved his initial victory as head coach during an away match against Telstar.

The Castle Lords’ 3-1 victory was well-earned as they outshone last year’s strugglers with a total of 16 shots against 7, creating six clear-cut chances compared to their opponents’ two, with an Expected Goals (xG) tally of 3.08 to 1.42.

Looking to continue their momentum, Meijer is eager to secure his first win in Rotterdam as De Kasteelheren seek to end their home winless streak.

Since their 2-0 victory against the now-relegated FC Volendam back in March, Sparta has recorded three losses and one draw in four home matches, failing to score in two of them.

In fact, that win over Volendam remains De Kasteelheren’s only triumph in seven Eredivisie contests, underscoring their difficulties in Rotterdam throughout much of 2026, despite starting the year with two consecutive wins against Heracles and Groningen, both by 2-0 margins.

This ambition is supported by the Castle Lords’ unbeaten streak of three matches in this fixture, with the latest two encounters favoring them.

Indeed, Utrecht is at risk of incurring a third consecutive defeat to initiate the season, piling more early pressure on head coach Anthony Correia.

The transition for the former Telstar manager, replacing retired Ron Jans, has yet to unfold as planned, with his debut in charge of Utreg resulting in a 2-1 loss to Groningen, followed by a heavier defeat last time at home against AZ.

They were still in contention after conceding just before the halftime break, but two rapid goals right after the break in minutes 47 and 49 dashed their hopes, even though Artem Stepanov managed to score one back for the Cupfighters shortly after the hour mark.

Despite their efforts, Correia’s side could not cut down the deficit and ended up conceding one more late in the game, which places them in 14th position before the third matchday of the season.

The traveling supporters will undoubtedly hope for a favorable outcome on Saturday, looking for some joy in a season that has so far provided little to smile about under the new coach.

Moreover, Utrecht’s aspirations are hindered by an extended disappointing away form in the Eredivisie, as they have faced four losses in five outings away from their home ground after garnering 11 points from a possible 15 in the five preceding matches on the road.

Team News

With Julian Baas returning from suspension during the win against Telstar, Sparta approaches Saturday’s fixture with a seemingly full squad, providing head coach Meijer with plenty of options against the struggling Cupfighters.

After a lackluster beginning to the season, Shunsuke Mito contributed to the scoring in their last match, assisting one of the Castle Lords’ three goals against the White Lions.

However, Nokkvi Thorisson was the standout player of the day, scoring one and assisting another, and the centre-forward will be aiming for goals in back-to-back fixtures.

Utrecht will rely on Stepanov for efficiency in the final third, with the forward looking to find the net in consecutive games for the second time since joining the club in January.

However, Correia’s squad is grappling with a lengthy injury list, including Victor Jensen (knee), Noah Ohio (knee), Alonzo Engwanda (hamstring), Miliano Jonathans (knee), and Oualid Agougil, all unavailable for this weekend’s matchup.

SPARTA ROTTERDAM probable starting XI:

Bed rack; Martes, Young, Verschuren, Kuipers; Boss, Toornstra; Terho, Mito, Santos; Thorisson

FC UTRECHT probable starting XI:

Barkas; Vesterlund, Horemans, Eerdhuijzen, Zagre; Pohl, Offerhaus; Alarcon, De Wit, Cathline; Stepanov

As Sparta enters this contest brimming with confidence following their emphatic win last weekend, their shaky home form throughout 2026 indicates this clash may not be an easy feat.

The Cupfighters are eager to stop their losing streak, and Stepanov’s scoring ability in the final third may be sufficient for the visitors to earn a hard-fought draw.