Go Ahead Eagles will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Eredivisie to nine matches when Vitesse come to town on Sunday evening in the league's final fixture before the World Cup and winter break.
Despite the hosts' remarkable form of late, only two points separate the two sides going into this clash, highlighting the competitiveness of the Dutch top flight, especially in the lower half of the table.
Match preview
After losing the first five games of their Eredivisie season, Go Ahead Eagles must have been fearing the worst, but an amazing eight-game run without defeat since that loss against Feyenoord has seen them climb the league standings.
They now sit 11th in the Dutch top flight, having collected 14 points from their opening 13 matches during their second season back at this level following promotion in the 2020-21 season.
The reason Rene Hake's side are not higher up the table after such a good run of form is that they have drawn five of those eight fixtures, but after the poor start the Eagles endured the head coach will not be worrying about those stalemates one bit.
Now with a home assignment as their final game before a two-month break, Hake's men have an opportunity to sign off 2022 on a good note in front of their home faithful at De Adelaarshorst.
Vitesse are struggling so far this campaign after six consecutive seasons of finishing in the top seven in the Eredivisie, with manager Phillip Cocu under pressure to change his team's fortunes before the World Cup break.
A 2-2 draw with champions Ajax last time out was a good response to a 4-0 loss at home to Sparta Rotterdam the game before, another unacceptable performance at home where they have managed just one win in seven so far this season.
Only bottom side FC Volendam (35) have conceded more goals than Vitesse's 28 after 13 matches of this season, with Cocu's men only keeping a clean sheet twice this term - both in away victories.
Shockingly, Vitesse can move above their hosts with a win on Sunday evening, with all three points having the ability to make the league standings look a whole lot better for the Arnhem-based club.
Team News
Go Ahead Eagles will remain without goalkeeper Erwin Mulder who suffered an arm injury back in September, with Jeffrey De Lange set to start in between the sticks again for the hosts on Sunday.
Midfielder Federico Mattiello is another long-term absentee for the Eagles, with the 27-year-old having not featured since a 3-2 victory at Volendam back in September.
Vitesse central defender Melle Meulensteen is a doubt still after being forced off early on in his side's embarrassing home defeat to Sparta Rotterdam last weekend, meaning Ryan Flamingo is likely to continue in the middle of the backline alongside Enzo Cornelisse.
Million Manhoef had only started two league matches this season before a brilliant brace against Ajax, and is almost guaranteed to keep his place in the XI after such an impressive performance on Wednesday night.
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
De Lange; Deiji, Amofa, Idzes, Kuipers; Linthorst, Rommens, Willumsson, Adekanye, Edvardsen; Lidberg
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Reiziger; Arcus, Flamingo, Cornelisse, Wittek; Bero, Tronstad, Yapi, Kozlowski, Manhoef; Vidovic
We say: Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Vitesse
Go Ahead Eagles are on a great run of form and will not feel like giving it up easily in their final match before the World Cup break.
Vitesse earned a solid point at Ajax in the week but expended a lot of energy whilst doing so, so another away assignment this weekend could be too much to handle for Cocu's side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
