Feyenoord v Sparta Rotterdam: title hopefuls meet play-off chasers | OneFootball

Feyenoord host Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie on Sunday, 18 January 2026 at Stadion Feijenoord, with the hosts looking to firm up second place while the visitors aim to strengthen their play-off push.

Feyenoord have recent head-to-head credit, including a 4-0 win away at Sparta in August. The game sits within a tight table picture: the hosts are second, the visitors eighth.

Form points to a contrast. Feyenoord have drawn their past two league matches after defeat at Ajax, while Sparta come in off back-to-back Eredivisie wins over Volendam and Heracles.

Availability could shape the hosts' defence: Gernot Trauner, Bart Nieuwkoop, Gijs Smal, Thomas Beelen, Givairo Read and Malcolm Jeng are all sidelined, with Gaoussou Diarra also out. Sparta are without forward Vito van Crooy.

Routes to goal are clear. Feyenoord have scored 44 league goals at 2.4 per game this season, led by top scorer Ayase Ueda with 18, with support from Sem Steijn and Anis Hadj Moussa. Sparta have netted 20 and conceded 31, so keeping it compact and targeting Tobias Lauritsen, who has nine league goals, could be their route.

A home win would take Feyenoord to 39 points and could tighten their grip on Champions League qualification. Victory for Sparta would move them to 29 points and may lift them further into the qualification play-off mix.