Preview:Vitesse vs. RKC Waalwijk - prediction, team news, lineups

Vitesse await the visit of RKC Waalwijk on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from a shock 4-1 defeat to VVV-Venlo on Wednesday.

The teams met on the opening weekend of the season, where Vitesse narrowly edged out Waalwijk 1-0 at the Mandemakers Stadion.

Match preview

After four league wins in a row and five in all competitions, Vitesse were brought down to earth by VVV, courtesy of Giorgos Giakoumakis's impressive four-goal haul.

Despite retaining the third spot in the Eredivisie table, that defeat has left them six points behind league leaders Ajax in the race for the title, which is now beginning to look like an insurmountable assignment for Thomas Letsch's men.

With a meeting with Ajax not coming up until the final day of the season, all Vitesse can do is stay within touching distance of the defending champions until then.

No team in the entire division has picked up more points or won more games in Eredivisie home matches this season than Saturday's hosts, which highlights how difficult a task Waalwijk have on their hands.

Vitas have also won the last four meetings between the sides, and have not tasted defeat at home in this fixture for the past 12 years.

Waalwijk have not won an Eredivisie game in seven weeks, since beating VVV-Venlo in a remarkable 3-2 comeback in December.

Fred Grim's men are one of three teams without a league victory this year, and they are hovering dangerously above the drop zone, which is currently occupied by ADO Den Haag, Willem II and Emmen.

However, with games against two of the aforementioned three to come in February, they could either pull away from trouble or get drawn closer to it after those matches.

Saturday's visitors have the league's joint-poorest attack, and an urgent improvement is needed to boost their chances of survival.

Vitesse Eredivisie form: LWWWWL Vitesse form (all competitions): WWWWWL

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form: LLDDLL

Team News

Sondre Tronstad will miss the game due to a leg problem that has kept him out since December, leaving Thomas Bruns with another opportunity to shine.

Young Enrico Hernandez has had his transition to the first team stalled by an ankle injury, but it should not be too long before he returns to action.

Twenty-year-old Cyril Ngonge was enjoying a relatively fine start to his Waalwijk career before he suffered a muscle tear in a 2-1 loss to Fortuna Sittard.

Fred Grim will also be without Morad El Haddouti, who was a useful option off the bench prior to the ankle injury he picked up in November.

Vitesse possible starting lineup: Pasveer; Wittek, Rasmussen, Bazoer, Doekhi, Dasa; Tannane, Bero, Bruns; Broja, Openda

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup: Lamprou; Quasten, Touba, Meulensteen, Bakari; Azhil, Van Der Venne, Tahiri; Oosting, Stokkers, Daneels

We say: Vitesse 3-1 RKC Waalwijk

With their title hopes now hanging by a thread, Vitesse need to string together some wins once again, and a game against a struggling Waalwijk side is a good starting point.

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