Vitesse will be looking to put some space between themselves and the Eredivisie relegation zone when they host NEC at the GelreDome Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The home side are in 14th place, just three points clear of the relegation playoff spot, while the visitors are in ninth, four points clear of their opponents.
Match preview
© Reuters
After an impressive 2021-22 season, finishing sixth in the Eredivisie, Vitesse have fallen off considerably so far this term, picking up just 14 points from their 15 matches up to this point.
Geel en Zwart's defence has been their primary issue, having conceded 31 goals, averaging more than two conceded a game, the second-worst defensive record in the Eredivisie, behind only 17th-placed FC Volendam.
Phillip Cocu's side have not won in their last four league games, although they have drawn three of these, two of which were against very good opponents in Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, so there are definitely some promising signs for the manager.
In their last eight matches against NEC, Vitesse have lost just once, comfortable 4-1 winners in their most recent encounter at the GelreDome, which should give them confidence heading into Sunday's game.
Against Alkmaar last time out, Geel en Zwart left it late but picked up a point courtesy of an 87th-minute Mohamed Sankoh goal, his first for the club, and the challenge will now be to back that up with what would be just a second home win of the season.
NEC have only lost three of their 15 Eredivisie games up to this point, but their league standing has been hampered by a seven-game run of draws stretching from August to October, currently seven points off the top seven.
Nijmegen's defence has been solid for the vast majority of the season, having conceded 17 goals, the fifth-best record in the league, although they have often had trouble down the other end of the pitch.
Rogier Meijer's side have scored 20 goals in the Eredivisie, the second-lowest amount in the top half, but they have started to show improved signs in front of goal in their latest matches, defeating Waalwijk 6-1 in their second-most recent home game.
In their last seven competitive matches, NEC have lost only once, with this coming in a tough trip to PSV Eindhoven, while they have also won their last two on the road, most recently defeating Almere City 4-0 in the KNVB-Beker.
Team News
© Reuters
Given that Vitesse have a clean bill of health, Cocu has no real reason to make too many changes to the team that impressed against Ajax in the last match.
However, one swap that he might make is bringing Sankoh into the starting lineup, after he scored in a nine-minute cameo last weekend, replacing Bartosz Bialek in the centre-forward role.
The visitors, however, have a few injury issues to contend with, as they will be without Fannar Baldursson and Mathias de Wolf in midfield, so Lasse Schone is poised to start in the engine room alongside Dirk Proper and Oussama Tannane.
After scoring in his last match, Pedro Marques is now on five for the season in all competitions, so he is set to lead the line, being supported by Elayis Tavsan and Magnus Mattsson on either side in a 4-3-3 system.
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Arcus, Meulensteen, Flamingo, Dijks; Bero, Tronstad, Kozlowski; Bialek, Vidovic, Manhoef
NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Van Rooij, Marquez, Sandler, El Karouani; Schone, Proper, Tannane; Mattsson, Tavsan, Dimata
We say: Vitesse 1-1 NEC
NEC have not been drawing quite as many games recently, but Vitesse have shared the spoils in their last three, proving that they can compete with the better sides in the league.
As such, we expect Sunday's game to finish all square given the home side's recent record, and the fact that they do not often lose against their opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
