RKC Waalwijk will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome relegation-threatened Vitesse to Mandemakers Stadion on Saturday night in the Eredivisie.

The hosts are enjoying a successful season in the Dutch top flight as the campaign enters April, whereas Vitesse are in the unfamiliar situation of having to look over their shoulders at the relegation places.

Match preview

Waalwijk are on the late-season hunt for their first top-half finish in the Eredivisie since their promotion from the Dutch second division in 2019 - although they did come close last year, ending up in 10th.

Joseph Oosting's men experienced a slight wobble before the international break however, losing back-to-back home matches at Mandemakers Stadion to PSV Eindhoven and NEC Nijmegen, the first time the team have lost successive matches since October.

Despite recent defeats on home soil, Waalwijk have fared far greater in front of their own fans this campaign, with 21 of their 32 Eredivisie points coming in home fixtures.

Oosting's side currently sit 10th in the league standings, and with seventh-placed Utrecht just six points better off, Waalwijk may be targeting a fight for Europa Conference League qualification once the regular season ends in May.

Michiel Kramer has been the experienced head leading the Waalwijk side this season - the 34-year striker has managed seven goals so far and will be looking to reach double digits in an Eredivisie campaign for the fourth time in his career.

Vitesse are entering the home straight of this Eredivisie season knowing their top-flight status - which has been untouched for over 30 years - is in serious danger of being removed if their abysmal run of form continues.

Phillip Cocu has failed to drastically improve matters at the club since taking the reins in September, with his side currently enduring a five-game winless run which has seen many supporters lose faith in the ex-Derby County boss.

Geel en Zwart stopped the rot with a 1-1 draw at home to PSV before the international break, but four-straight losses prior to that point at GelreDome mean Vitesse went without a victory during a miserable March.

Cocu's men are 14th in the Eredivisie standings, just three points ahead of Emmen who sit in the relegation-playoff position, meaning a first second-division campaign since the 1988-89 term is a distinct possibility next year.

The Vitesse faithful will take slight confidence this weekend from that fact their men have collected more points away from the GelreDome so far this season and that they have won on their last three visits to Waalwijk - a run stretching back to September 2019.

Team News

Waalwijk have a host of players returning from international duty ahead of Saturday's clash, with Vurnon Anita expected to retain his place in the XI after featuring for Curacao in their 7-0 loss to World Cup holders Argentina in the week.

Centre-back Jurien Gaari also turned out for La Familia Azul as Lionel Messi and company ran riot - the 29-year should partner Shawn Adewoye and Dario van den Buijs in a back three for the hosts.

Vitesse will be without Maximilian Wittek this weekend as the left-back serves the final match of his suspension for earning a red card in his side's loss at Sparta Rotterdam, with Enzo Cornelisse expected to deputise once again.

Davy Propper only managed two matches in the Vitesse colours before suffering a knee injury in February, with the former Brighton & Hove Albion man a doubt for Saturday's trip to Waalwijk.

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Gaari, Adewoye, Van den Buijs; Lelieveld, Oukili, Anita, Clement, Lutonda; Kramer, Seuntjens

Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Flamingo, Oroz, Isimat-Mirin, Cornelisse; Meulensteen, Tronstad, Van Ginkel; Manhoef, Kozlowski, Bero

We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-2 Vitesse

Waalwijk have enjoyed a positive campaign so far but could struggle to kick on for the remainder of the season considering their top-tier status is essentially secured.

Vitesse find themselves in an unusual situation near the bottom of the Eredivisie, but we believe they will earn a much-needed victory on Saturday afternoon to ease their relegation fears.


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