Feyenoord have an opportunity to move into fourth place in the Eredivisie table when they host Vitesse at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam on Sunday.
De Stadionclub came back to beat Utrecht 2-1 in their previous match, while Ajax scored in injury time last weekend to deny Vitesse a chance to win their second Dutch Cup.
Match preview
Winning the league is already out of sight for Dick Advocaat and his team, who will have their work cut out for them if they are to repeat the third-placed finish they have managed in their previous two campaigns.
Feyenoord have struggled against teams above them in the table this season, which explains why they are in danger of finishing outside the top four for the first time since 2010-11.
Four of their five losses this season have come against teams they are currently chasing in the table, including two defeats against AZ Alkmaar and a loss to Ajax and Vitesse, respectively.
There is still time for them to make up ground playing Vitesse and Ajax down the stretch, but they may need help from other clubs to move up the standings.
They are unbeaten in their last five league matches and have gone undefeated at De Kuip Stadium in five consecutive games in the Eredivisie.
Vitesse are on pace for their best finish to a league campaign since coming in fourth in 1999-00, when they collected 63 points.
Thomas Letsch has brought a wealth of experience to this team, currently positioned to earn a spot in the third round of the Europa Conference League next season.
A big part of their success has to do with their strong defensive game, conceding the second-fewest goals in the league (28), while goalkeeper Remko Pasveer leads the Eredivisie with 11 clean sheets.
They have been incredibly resilient away from home, recently winning their last two league games on the road despite conceding the opening goal.
- L
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- D
- L
Team News
Feyenoord keeper Justin Bijlow suffered a knee injury late in their victory over Utrecht and is set to miss this match as a result.
Right-back Bart Nieuwkoop and left-winger Christian Conteh are questionable with hamstring injuries, while striker Nicolai Jorgensen is nursing an ankle injury.
If Bijlow cannot go, Nick Marsman will start in his place looking to earn his ninth clean sheet this season, while winger Steven Berghuis needs just two assists to draw even with Dusan Tadic for the league lead.
Vitesse centre-back Jacob Rasmussen is suspended after receiving a red card late in the Dutch Cup final.
Midfielder Oussama Tannane and defender Eli Dasa lead the team with six assists each, and leading goalscorer Armando Broja will try to hit double digits in goals, having notched nine already.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Marsman; Malacia, Senesi, Botteghin, Spagic, Geertruida; Diemers, Fer, Toornstra; Linssen, Berghuis
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Dasa, Oroz, Bazoer, Cornelisse, Wittek; Tronstad, Tannane, Bero; Openda, Broja
We say: Feyenoord 1-1 Vitesse
These are two evenly-matched teams separated by two points in the standings, while Vitesse have conceded one goal fewer than their opponents.
In the last four meetings between these sides, they are dead even with each team winning once, while the other two matches were draws.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
