Julian Brandt Delivers First Ajax Assists in Hard-Fought Win Over Sparta Rotterdam
Julian Brandt ended his wait for a first assist in an Ajax shirt by setting up both goals in a 2-1 away victory over Sparta Rotterdam. The Germany international’s creative contribution proved decisive in a demanding Eredivisie match, helping Ajax move above PSV Eindhoven and close the gap on league leaders Feyenoord.
Brandt’s assist tally had been the one notable gap in an otherwise productive start to his Ajax career. The 30-year-old had already scored eight goals and become one of the team’s most influential attacking players, but his teammates had not converted the chances he created. That changed on matchday 10, when he supplied the passes for goals by teenage midfielder Abdellah Ouazane and striker Tolu Arokodare.
Brandt and Ouazane combine for Ajax’s opener
Ajax took the lead in the 22nd minute through an impressive move that highlighted Brandt’s vision and the confidence of 17-year-old Moroccan prospect Ouazane. Roughly 20 metres from goal, Brandt exchanged a sharp one-two with the youngster, who moved into shooting position and struck powerfully from the edge of the penalty area.
The goal gave Ajax an early advantage, but Sparta responded before the break. Jens Toornstra brought the home side level in the 43rd minute, raising the pressure on the visitors and setting up a tense finish to the first half.
Brandt then made another key contribution in stoppage time. Starting the move deep in his own half, he carried the ball forward on the counter-attack and advanced toward the edge of Sparta’s penalty area. Rather than force a shot, he picked out Arokodare, who stayed composed and finished to restore Ajax’s lead at 2-1.
The timing of the goal mattered as much as the finish. Ajax had conceded just before half-time, and Sparta would have entered the break with momentum had the score remained level. Instead, Brandt’s direct running and precise final pass gave the visitors a valuable advantage at the interval.
A creative force in Ajax’s attack
Brandt’s two assists reinforced the importance of his role in Ajax’s forward play. His eight goals had already made him a major source of attacking production, while his chance creation had also stood out. He had created more Eredivisie opportunities than any of his Ajax teammates at that stage of the campaign.
His performance against NEC Nijmegen on matchday eight offered a clear example of that influence. Brandt created eight chances in the 1-1 draw, while the rest of the Ajax team managed five combined. The numbers suggested that he was regularly finding openings and supplying dangerous passes, even when the finishing touch was missing.
That context makes Sunday’s breakthrough significant beyond the two assists themselves. For an attacking midfielder, assists are an imperfect measure of creativity: they depend on teammates converting chances, not just on the quality of the pass. Brandt’s long wait for his first Ajax assist therefore did not mean he had been ineffective. Rather, the Sparta match finally turned his creative work into a direct return on the scoresheet.
A costly mistake nearly changed the match
Brandt’s afternoon was not without risk. In the 59th minute, he misjudged a pass near his own penalty area and sent the ball toward goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. The delivery went straight to Sparta’s Mitchell van Bergen, who suddenly had a clear opportunity to equalise.
Ter Stegen reacted quickly, making an outstanding save to preserve Ajax’s narrow lead. Brandt immediately acknowledged the goalkeeper with a high-five, a brief moment that captured how close the match had come to changing direction. The error could have been costly, but Ter Stegen’s intervention allowed Ajax to remain in front.
The German goalkeeper continued to play a major role as Sparta pushed for another goal. The hosts applied pressure at several points in the second half, but Ter Stegen produced a series of sharp reflex saves to deny them. He did miss a cross shortly before the final whistle, yet Sparta were unable to take advantage of the loose situation.
What the result means for the Eredivisie race
Ajax’s 2-1 win carried important consequences in the league standings. PSV Eindhoven had earlier drawn 1-1 with Feyenoord, allowing Ajax to move above PSV and reduce the distance to the Rotterdam leaders to three points. A single result does not decide a title race, but the points gained on the road strengthened Ajax’s position as the season progressed.
The victory also offered encouraging signs for the team’s attacking balance. Brandt’s ability to connect midfield and forward players can give Ajax more options against opponents who defend deep, while the emergence of Ouazane adds another young talent to the club’s attacking mix. Arokodare’s composed finish, meanwhile, showed the value of having a striker ready to convert a chance under pressure.
For fans following the Eredivisie, Brandt’s first assists are a useful indicator of how his Ajax role may develop. He is not simply a scorer; he is also creating opportunities and helping drive transitions from defence into attack. If those responsibilities continue to produce goals for his teammates, Ajax could become less dependent on Brandt finishing moves himself.
The result leaves plenty to consider ahead of Ajax’s next league fixture against AZ on November 1. The main question will be whether Brandt’s breakthrough becomes a regular feature of the team’s attacking output. His two assists against Sparta will raise expectations, but the wider signs—his goal tally, chance creation and influence in open play—suggest that his contribution has been building for some time.
For Ajax, the match was a mixture of creativity, resilience and a narrow escape. Brandt supplied the decisive passes, Ter Stegen protected the lead, and the team held on through sustained second-half pressure. In a competitive football season where small moments can shape the table, that combination delivered three valuable points and fresh momentum in the Eredivisie title race.
