SV Meppen vs Sparta Rotterdam

Meppen's opening salvo inside 12 minutes. Prasse's stunning long-range volley and Akono's quick header gave the Regionalliga Nord champions a cushion that Sparta — despite controlling long spells — never fully erased. The 2-0 lead meant every Sparta reply was met with a Meppen response, and the Eredivisie side never drew level.

• Luca Prasse (SV Meppen) — opened the scoring with a 30-yard volley that set the tone for the entire match. The midfielder's technique and ambition were the difference in the opening period.
• Cyrill Akono (SV Meppen) — scored the crucial second goal with a well-timed header and led the Meppen press that unsettled Sparta in the early stages.
• Joel Ideho (Sparta Rotterdam) — Sparta's most dangerous attacker in the second half, scoring the 2-1 goal with a composed finish from the left channel.
• Casper Terho (Sparta Rotterdam) — pulled one back late (106') and kept Sparta alive in the final quarter.

Player of the Match: Luca Prasse (SV Meppen)

The match was played as a training-ground fixture in four 30-minute blocks, so conventional statistics are limited. Sparta's official report notes they had three corners in the first two blocks and created several second-half chances, but their first two shots on target were both Meppen goals. Meppen were clinical — three goals from what appeared to be a low volume of clear chances — while Sparta dominated possession and territory, particularly in the second and fourth blocks, without converting enough of their openings.

Meppen, promoted to the 3. Liga after winning the Regionalliga Nord in 2025/26, continue their pre-season preparations with a confidence-boosting win over top-flight opposition. Their competitive season begins on 7 August 2026.

Sparta Rotterdam suffered their first defeat of pre-season after previous wins over amateur sides VELO, VOC and Eerste Divisie side Telstar. The 6-day training camp in Delden concluded with this match. Meijer said afterwards: "There are still things that need to improve, but it has been a successful training camp." Sparta's next friendly is against Zulte Waregem in Belgium on 25 July, before opening the Eredivisie season with a derby against Feyenoord three weeks from now.

A productive workout for both sides. Meppen proved they can compete physically and tactically against a higher-ranked opponent, while Sparta — despite the defeat — will have gained valuable data from a 120-minute run-out with two different lineups. The scoreline mattered less than the processes, and both coaches will have taken positives.