Match Report
Before the match
Sparta: two draws and three defeats over five games; seven goals scored, 15 conceded, without a win. Go Ahead were their latest opponents, away on 10 October: a 3-3 draw.
Against Go Ahead in Eredivisie, Sparta scored three and conceded three on 10 October; the away from home result was 3-3. Sparta's at home game on 19 September (Eredivisie) ended 0-4 against Heerenveen, with zero goals for and four against. On 13 September, PSV faced Sparta in Eredivisie: Sparta lost 1-4 away from home, having scored one and conceded four. Eredivisie, 4 September brought a home meeting with Zwolle; Sparta drew 2-2, a return of two goals scored and two conceded. Sparta visited Excelsior on 29 August (Eredivisie) and lost 1-2; their goals totalled one, compared with two conceded.
six points in eight matches put Sparta 14th in the pre-match results-based Eredivisie standings.
Willem II arrived without a win in their last five outings, recording one draw and four defeats, scoring three goals and conceding 13. On 11 October, Willem II recorded a 3-1 defeat visiting Utrecht.
11 October: Willem II lost 1-3 against Utrecht away from home in Eredivisie, scoring one goal and allowing three. Against Sittard in Eredivisie, Willem II scored zero and conceded one on 19 September; the at home result was 0-1. Willem II's away from home game on 15 September (Eredivisie) ended 1-5 against Ajax, with one goal for and five against. On 11 September, AZ faced Willem II in Eredivisie: Willem II drew 1-1 away from home, having scored one and conceded one. Eredivisie, 5 September brought a home meeting with Excelsior; Willem II lost 0-3, a return of zero goals scored and three conceded.
Willem II stood 18th in the results-based Eredivisie table before kickoff, with two points from eight matches.
Earlier results between these sides included a 4-0 home win for Sparta on 2 March 2025 and a 2-1 away win for Sparta on 31 August 2024.
After the match
Sparta edged past Willem II 3-2 on 17 October 2026. Tonny Vilhena opened the scoring in the 17th minute for Willem II to make it 1-0. Jens Toornstra levelled it in the 39th minute for Sparta to make it 1-1. Lushendry Martes put Sparta in front 50 minutes into the game to make it 2-1. Milan Zonneveld added to the tally 57 minutes into the game for Sparta, set up by Jens Toornstra, to make it 3-1. Uriël van Aalst pulled one back 68 minutes into the game for Willem II, set up by Vito van Crooij, to make it 2-3. 9 players were booked, among them Finn Stam (41'), Rogier Meijer (59'), Vito van Crooij (70'), Lushendry Martes (70'), Thomas Verheydt (75') and Alwande Roaldsøy (78'). 64.7% is Sparta's winning probability here from current model ratings, alongside their recorded victory. Willem II's current recorded form ends with 4 consecutive defeats in the 2024/25 Eredivisie and the 2026/27 Eredivisie. five yellow cards went to Sparta. Sparta: three substitutions. After coming on for Sparta in minute 74, Alwande Roaldsøy was booked. The card tally for Willem II was four yellow cards. five changes were recorded for Willem II. Thomas Verheydt, on in the 66th minute, was booked. Chido Obi-Martin entered for Willem II at 81 minutes and later was booked. one change of leader occurred in the scoring sequence. Sparta won after falling behind.