Vitesse and RKC Waalwijk are early-season strugglers, evidenced by the embryonic Eredivisie table, heading into Saturday's fixture at the GelreDome.
The Arnhem-based club have picked up three points from an available nine, making them slight favourites against the away side that have suffered defeats in every game.
Match preview
Vitesse ended last season with a victory over already crowned champions Feyenoord, but this season has started disappointingly for FC Hollywood at the Rhine.
A gameweek one triumph over Volendam continued a run that saw them claim maximum points in the final three rounds of the 2022-23 season and the first fixture of the new season.
However, those four wins in the Eredivisie have been followed by two defeats on the trot, even if the quality of the opponent — PSV (3-1) and AZ Alkmaar (2-0) — adds the required context to those two losses.
The international break has given Phillip Cocu time to reflect on his side's defeats, and they seek to return to winning ways against the struggling visitors.
Vitesse have not beaten Waalwijk in a league game at the GelreDome since February 2014, a statistic they seek to change on Saturday.
The away side may feel their unbeaten record in Arnhem is at risk this year due to an appalling start to the campaign.
Their four losses in succession have not been the worst part; instead, the manner of those defeats for Henk Fraser's men have rankled.
At least three goals have been conceded in every game, with an additional one let in when the bottom side hosted PSV before the international break.
They seek to find their feet at Vitesse, but it remains to be seen if they secure the desired result against a side they ended a place above in the previous season.
Without a league defeat in Arnhem since 2014 and their last in all competitions coming in a cup exit in 2016, Waalwijk have no reason to lack belief over securing their first point of the 2023-24 season on Saturday.
Team News
Thomas Buitink is undoubtedly out of Vitesse's game with Waalwijk, having suffered an ACL injury that should rule him out until the New Year.
Kacper Kozlowski (illness) and Davy Propper (knee) are doubtful for Saturday.
As for Waalwijk, Fraser has the full complement of his squad to pick from this weekend, with no player missing for the visitors.
The away side are expected to start in a 4-2-3-1, thus matching the home side.
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Room; Arcus, Oroz, Isimat-Mirin, Pinto; Meulensteen, Tielemans; Manhoef, Van Ginkel, Kozlowski; Hamulic
RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Lelieveld, Bruma, Gaari, Meijers; Felida, Oukili; Bakkali, Min, Cleonise; Kramer
We say: Vitesse 1-1 RKC Waalwijk
Vitesse have not defeated Waalwijk since September 2021, and that run could continue this weekend, with the visitors securing their first point of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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