Preview:Go Ahead Eagles vs. Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to end their winless start to the Eredivisie campaign on Saturday, Go Ahead Eagles host Sparta Rotterdam at De Adelaarshorst in gameweek three of the 2025-26 season.

Kowet have played out two draws in rounds one and two, most recently holding Ajax to a 2-2 stalemate, and they seek third-time lucky against their visitors from Rotterdam, who beat Utrecht last weekend to bounce back from gameweek one’s 6-1 hammering by PSV Eindhoven.

Match preview

In isolation, holding Ajax to a draw at home is a positive outcome for anyone, but new Go Ahead Eagles head coach Melvin Boel must be scratching his head to find solutions after a winless start in the province of Overijssel.

After failing to hold onto their advantage in the Dutch Super Cup against PSV, losing 2-1, they have since conceded two goals each against Fortuna Sittard and Ajax in both top-flight matches.

While the absence of clean sheets is concerning, glass-half-full fans will point to their gameweek one draw in Sittard, achieved despite playing with 10 men before scoring a late leveller, while holding the Amsterdam giants at any level counts as a point gained rather than two lost.

However, Kowet aim to offer more defensive resilience on Saturday, as goalscoring does not seem to be an issue for Biel's team, who have netted in every competitive match this season.

The home crowd will expect maximum points this weekend, considering that Go Ahead Eagles enter gameweek three on a three-match Eredivisie winning streak in this fixture, notably claiming last season's corresponding match 1-0.

Sparta aim to break that losing streak this weekend, striving to exploit Kowet's defensive frailties, which have been evident since the start of the season.

Maurice Steijn's men go into the third round's game fresh from a positive result in their previous fixture, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Utrecht.

That success followed a heavy 6-1 defeat at the hands of PSV in their opener of the new campaign, and De Kasteelheren deserve credit for bouncing back to beat last season's fourth-placed side.

However, travelling supporters will hope for a different outcome in their second away fixture of the season to put their heavy defeat in Eindhoven behind them.

That would require avoiding defeat in this fixture for the first time since October 2023, and it remains to be seen whether the away side's motivation from beating Utrecht carries into Saturday's trip to Overijssel.

Go Ahead Eagles Eredivisie form:

Go Ahead Eagles form (all competitions):

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

Team News

Calvin Twigt remains suspended for Go Ahead Eagles following his red card in gameweek one, while Pim Saathof and Soren Tengstedt are sidelined due to injury.

Although Kowet have had three different goalscorers this season — Gerrit Nauber, Evert Linthorst and Melle Meulensteen — Boel will hope Victor Edvardsen ends his drought in round three.

Nevertheless, Edvardsen was pivotal in the 2-2 draw with Ajax, providing assists for both goals, highlighting his dual threat for the hosts.

Sparta will evaluate Shunsuke Mito and Jens Toornstra before this weekend's fixture after both were substituted in the 21st and 54th minutes of the victory over Utrecht.

The Rotterdam club will also assess Jonathan de Guzman and Lance Duijvestijn, meaning Steijn could be without three players at De Adelaarshorst.

Tobias Lauritsen scored an 88th-minute penalty to secure last weekend's win, and the forward aims to be decisive again after opening his account in 25-26.

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Linthorst, Meulensteen; Margaret, Breum, Suray; Edvardsen

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Drommel; Bakari, Young, Indi, Van Aanholt; Baas, Clement, Kitolano; Oufkir, Lauritsen, Ltaief

We say: Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam

Considering that Go Ahead Eagles have had defensive issues this season, Sparta Rotterdam, who conceded six goals in their first away match of the campaign, are expected to score on Saturday.

Nonetheless, the hosts, who have dominated this fixture over the past two years, are likely to secure a fourth consecutive Eredivisie victory, thus inflicting consecutive away losses on their visitors from Rotterdam.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.