Coach Alex Pastoor has turned Sparta Rotterdam into a team that can make life difficult for anyone. In their first season after returning to the Eredivisie, the Kasteel hosts occupied a thirteenth place and reached the semifinals of the KNVB Cup.
Two goals Ramselaar
That Sparta is a dangerous opponent, PSV knows all too well. At the Philips Stadium earlier this season, Bart Ramselaar did not score the only goal of the match until the 78th minute. Three days later, a goal by Ramselaar was not enough for victory. In the second round of the KNVB Cup, Sparta won 3-1 at Kasteel, through goals by Bart Vriends, Zakaria El Azzouzi and Loris Brogno.
Only loss in fourteen duels
That was Sparta's only victory over PSV in fourteen games, though, in all competitions both away and at home. Sparta's last premier league victory dates back to November 3, 2001, when Mateja Kezman put PSV ahead, but Aron Winter and Danny Koevermans gave Sparta a 2-1 win.
Semifinals
In the cup, after PSV, Sparta also won against Heracles Almelo and FC Volendam, before being eliminated by Vitesse in the semifinals on March 1. Four days later, the Spartans did win the city derby against Feyenoord 1-0, through a goal by Mathias Pogba.
Three in a row?
Then Sparta lost 5-0 away at Vitesse, but did win again at home 3-1 against Heracles Almelo the week before the international break. Therefore, Sparta could reach a small milestone against PSV, as the club has not won more than two home games in a row in the Eredivisie since December 2008. PSV is keen to prevent that from happening.