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FC Utrecht
Eredivisie | 1st Leg
May 19, 2022 at 8pm UK
Stadion Galgenwaard
Vitesse
Utrecht
3 - 1
Vitesse
Janssen (3'), van de Streek (21'), Gustafson (81' pen.)
van der Kust (51'), van de Streek (53')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Vroegh (85')
Buitink (51'), Tronstad (60'), Doekhi (74'), Openda (90+2')

Preview: FC Utrecht vs. Vitesse - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Eredivisie clash between FC Utrecht and Vitesse, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

FC Utrecht and Vitesse will do battle at the Stadion Galgenwaard for the first leg of their Europa Conference League playoff semi-final on Thursday.

The hosts finished the regular Eredivisie season in seventh place, one place and four points behind their opponents Vitesse in sixth.


Match preview

Despite only winning two of their final 13 league games of the season, Utrecht did enough to finish inside the top eight and remain in contention for European qualification.

Back-to-back score draws against PEC Zwolle and AZ Alkmaar were followed by a disappointing 3-0 defeat on the final day at relegated Willem II last weekend, their 11th loss of the campaign.

After three successive sixth-place finishes, Rick Kruys's men had to settle for seventh spot this term, but their season is not over as they now have the chance to move one step closer to securing European qualification for the first time since 2010-11 when they competed in the Europa League.

Success on Thursday, however, could prove challenging for Utrecht as they have failed to beat Vitesse in any of their last five meetings.

Vitesse coach Thomas Letsch during the match on November 25, 2021© Reuters

After beating Fortuna Sittard 2-1 away from home, Vitesse ended the regular campaign with a respectable 2-2 draw at home to Eredivisie champions Ajax.

Thomas Letsch's side were leading 2-1 thanks to a four-minute brace midway through the second half from Lois Openda, but an 87th-minute equaliser from Edson Alvarez forced both sides to settle for a point.

Vitesse will now turn their attention to the Europa Conference League playoffs as they bid to qualify for the competition for the second successive year, after reaching the last-16 stage earlier this season.

The Arnhem-based outfit have fared better away from home this term, claiming 30 points on the road in comparison to 21 accumulated on home soil.

Vitesse head to the Stadion Galgenwaard unbeaten in their last five visits, including the 1-1 draw in February and the 3-1 victory last season.

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L

Vitesse Eredivisie form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D


Team News

Vitesse Arnhem's Adrian Grbic celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 24, 2022© Reuters

Utrecht duo Reda Akmum and Naoki Maeda are still recovering from long-term knee injuries, while goalkeeper Fabian De Keijzer is set to miss out due to a thigh problem, with Eric Oelschlagel to retain his spot between the sticks as a result.

Henk Veerman, Tommy St Jago and Bart Ramselaar are also struggling with injuries and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Either Othman Boussaid or Remco Balk could start on the left flank in Ramselaar's absence, joining Anastasios Douvikas and Sander van de Streek in attack.

As for Vitesse, Maximilian Wittek (shoulder), Yann Gboho (groin) and Jacob Rasmussen (muscle) all remain sidelined with injuries.

Letsch is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, so Toni Domgjoni could retain his place in centre-midfield alongside Sondre Tronstad and Matus Bero.

Openda, who netted his 17th and 18th Eredivisie goals of the season against Ajax, is expected to lead the line along with Adrian Grbic.

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Oelschlagel; Ter Avest, Van der Hoorn, Janssen, Warmerdam; Van Overeem, Maher, Timber; Douvikas, Van de Streek, Boussaid

Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Schubert; Bazoer, Doekhi, Cornelisse; Dasa, Tronstad, Bero, Domgjoni, Manhoef; Grbic, Openda


SM words green background

We say: FC Utrecht 1-2 Vitesse

Considering the form of both sides and the recent head-to-head meetings, Vitesse will be considered as favourites for Thursday's contest.

Utrecht are unbeaten in their last three home games, but we can see that run coming to an end, with the visitors taking a slender advantage into Sunday's second leg.

For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Utrecht vs Vitesse

FC Utrecht
28.6%
Draw
26.2%
Vitesse
45.2%
42
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3FC Twente26165549252453
4AZ AlkmaarAZ26147553233049
5Ajax26118757471041
6NECNijmegen26109750401039
7Go Ahead Eagles2610793835337
8FC UtrechtUtrecht269983133-236
9Fortuna SittardSittard2697103344-1134
10Sparta RotterdamSparta2687113338-531
11Heerenveen2694134249-731
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13PEC Zwolle2677123447-1328
14Heracles2675143358-2526
15SBV ExcelsiorExcelsior26410123957-1822
16RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk2664162443-1922
17Vitesse2645172153-3217
18FC VolendamVolendam2635182667-4114

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