Telstar's expected setup is a 4-2-3-1, with Ronald Koeman in goal and a back four of Gerald Alders, Abdelnor Soualhia, Marvin Peersman and Jeff Hardeveld. That's a solid, experienced spine — Hardeveld was one of their leading creative players from set-pieces last season, and Peersman knows the league from his Groningen days. The double pivot of Nils Rossen and Tyrone Owusu will screen the defence, while the attacking trio of Rui Mendes, Patrick Brouwer and Soufiane Hetli buzz around Jelani Seedorf up top. This is a side built to sit in, absorb, and then knife through the lines on the break. The who-scored preview specifically flags Mendes and Hetli as the wide threats who will exploit spaces either side of Sparta's midfield — and those spaces should be there.

Sparta's formation is not confirmed, but after that passive derby display, they are likely to be expected to take more initiative here. That is a dangerous game against a Telstar side that thrives on transition. If Sparta push forward, they leave gaps behind their midfield, and Telstar's wide men will feast on that. The visitors' midfield needs to be far more aggressive in the press, but their recent body language suggests they're not there yet. Expect Telstar to sit deep, invite pressure, and then hit hard on the counter. This is a classic low-block versus possession puzzle — and the low block has the sharper tools today.