In search of three league wins on the bounce, Vitesse travel to the Stadion Galgenwaard for their meeting with FC Utrecht on Sunday.
The home side will aim to exact revenge on their visitors, who beat them 1-0 in January's reverse fixture at the GelreDome.
Match preview
After losing to Emmen a fortnight ago, Utrecht returned to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph over RKC Waalwijk at the Mandemakers Stadion on Saturday.
Rene Hake's men were on course to drop points for the second game running, but Sander van de Streek converted a late penalty to secure all three points.
The Domstedelingen have picked up 19 points from the last 24 available, which is a vast improvement from the 18 that they picked up from 48 prior to that.
As a result, Saturday's hosts are now up to seventh in the Eredivisie table, five points off sixth-placed Groningen, albeit having played an extra game.
They have also been in good form defensively, conceding just seven goals in nine games since the turn of the year, while keeping four clean sheets in that time.
Vitesse beat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 on Sunday in Arnhem to record a second successive league triumph, and give their top-four hopes a huge boost.
Thomas Letsch's men stormed to a two-goal lead which they were able to hold on to despite finishing the game with 10 men as Enzo Cornelisse was sent off.
Vitas moved within a point of AZ courtesy of that win, and the race to finish as runners-up behind runaway leaders Ajax continues to intensify.
Next up for them is a trip to a ground where they are unbeaten in the last three games, after losing all five prior to that.
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- D
- L
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
Team News
Christopher Mamengi will not feature for the home side until April at the earliest due to an ankle injury that he picked up while on duty with the reserve team.
Justin Hoogma will also be unavailable for the hosts as he works his way back to full fitness, following his recovery from a knee injury.
Fabian de Keijzer continues to nurse a hand problem which will make him unavailable for the 26th game in a row dating back to last September.
Eighteen-year-old Enzo Cornelisse was sent off for the first time in his senior career last time out, and he will miss the game through suspension.
Riechedly Bazoer is expected to return to the starting XI for this one after sitting out the last match as a precautionary measure.
FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Oelschlagel; Warmerdam, Janssen, St Jago, Ter Avest; Maher, Boussaid, Van Overeem; Ramselaar, Van De Streek, Kerk
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Wittek, Rasmussen, Bazoer, Doekhi, Dasa; Tannane, Bero, Bruns; Broja, Openda
We say: FC Utrecht 2-1 Vitesse
The confidence in the Utrecht camp will be sky-high at the moment following a streak of positive results in recent weeks, and we are backing them to keep that good run going with a hard-fought win in this one.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
