Excelsior 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Eredivisie Matchday 4 · Saturday 29 August 2026 · Van Donge & De Roo Stadion, Rotterdam · referee S. Gözübüyük · full time
Full time: Excelsior 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Excelsior beat Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 in Eredivisie Matchday 4 on Saturday 29 August 2026 at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion. The goals: Aymen Sliti 24', Milan Zonneveld 48', Nesto Groen 90+2'.
How Excelsior won it
The opening goal came in the 24th minute: Aymen Sliti for Excelsior. Sparta Rotterdam levelled at 1-1 in the 48th minute through Milan Zonneveld, set up by Mitchell van Bergen. Nesto Groen made it 2-1 to Excelsior in the 90th minute (+2), set up by Ilano Silva Timas.
It was 1-0 at half-time.
The referee, S. Gözübüyük, showed 3 yellow cards: 2 to Excelsior and 1 to Sparta Rotterdam.
Excelsior: R. den Uil, 4-3-3 · Sparta Rotterdam: R. Meijer, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.87 for Excelsior and 1.75 for Sparta Rotterdam.
Excelsior scored about 1.1 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Sparta Rotterdam created the better chances, 1.75 xG to 0.87, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Excelsior had 5 shots on target, Sparta Rotterdam 2.
Sparta Rotterdam had 55% of the ball, but Excelsior took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Excelsior came into it with 10 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.9 a match, with 1.36 expected goals for and 1.79 against, and had won 30% of their matches.
Sparta Rotterdam came into it with 9 Eredivisie matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 2.4 a match, with 1.88 expected goals for and 2.13 against, and had won 22% of their matches.
Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam: the match in numbers
| Excelsior | Match statistics | Sparta Rotterdam |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | Ball possession | 55% |
| 0.87 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.75 |
| 15 | Total shots | 10 |
| 5 | Shots on target | 2 |
| 1 | Big chances | 1 |
| 383 | Total passes | 488 |
| 81% | Pass accuracy | 83% |
| 6 | Corners | 4 |
| 13 | Fouls | 7 |
| 10 | Tackles | 13 |
| 1 | Saves | 3 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Aymen Sliti (Excelsior), rated 7.8 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.
Excelsior
- Aymen Sliti 7.8 1 goal
- Irakli Yegoian 7.8
- Nesto Groen 7.6 1 goal
- Jan Plug 7.3
- Casper Widell 6.9
Sparta Rotterdam
- Milan Zonneveld 7.8 1 goal
- Mitchell van Bergen 7.4 1 assist
- Marvin Young 7.2
- Jens Toornstra 7.0
- Lushendry Martes 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Robin van Cruijsen at 6.3. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Excelsior: Excelsior vs FC Twente Sunday 1 November 2026 · Eredivisie
- Sparta Rotterdam: Sparta Rotterdam vs Ajax Sunday 25 October 2026 · Eredivisie
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam
What was the score in Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam?
Excelsior 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam (half-time 1-0), Eredivisie, Saturday 29 August 2026.
Who scored in Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam?
Aymen Sliti 24', Milan Zonneveld 48', Nesto Groen 90+2'.
Did Moneyball predict Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam?
Aymen Sliti, rated 7.8 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam?
S. Gözübüyük.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.