Preview: Vitesse vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

Title-chasing Vitesse are hot on the heels of Eredivisie leaders Ajax and host a strong Heerenveen side on Sunday as they bid to keep the pressure on.

Heerenveen have enjoyed a strong campaign to this point and find themselves seventh, just two points off the European places with 11 games played.

Match preview

Vitesse have emerged as surprise title contenders this season and sit second after 11 Eredivisie games, just two points behind Ajax.

Thomas Letsch's side boast a flawless record at home, winning each of their five such games, while their only two defeats have come on the road.

They also possess the joint-second best defensive record in the division, having shipped just eight goals in 11 league outings - level with PSV Eindhoven and just one behind Ajax.

Vitesse failed to take advantage of a rare Ajax slip-up last time out, however, as the league leaders slumped to their second defeat of the season, but Letsch's men were also beaten 2-1 by mid-table PEC Zwolle.

Seventh-placed Heerenveen will likely prove sterner opposition for Vitesse, having lost just twice in the league so far this season.

Their lack of defeats is impressive, but Johnny Jansen's side have been held back from climbing even further up the table by a string of draws.

Heerenveen have been held in four of their 11 Eredivisie games, drawing the last three in a row and going four without a win as their strong early-season form tapers off slightly.

Despite that, they remain just six points behind Vitesse going into this match and know that a win would be a massive boost to their ambitions of European football.

Vitesse Eredivisie form: WWWDWL

Heerenveen Eredivisie form: WWLDDD Heerenveen form (all competitions): WWLDDD

Team News

Vitesse boss Letsch is without three players going into Sunday's encounter.

Eli Dasa and Patrick Vroegh are both unavailable due to Covid-19 and will be absent for a few weeks.

Additionally, Idrissa Toure is suspended after receiving a straight red card in the defeat last time out.

Meanwhile, Heerenveen head coach Jansen merely has a couple of injury doubts and the majority of his squad is fit and available.

Arjen van der Heide and Jan Ras are both recovering from their respective injuries and have an outside chance of being involved against Vitesse.

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

Heerenveen possible starting lineup: Mulder; Floranus, Van Hecke, Bochniewicz, Woudenberg; Kongolo, Dewaele, J. Veerman; Nygren, H. Veerman, Van Bergen

We say: Vitesse 2-1 Heerenveen

This should be a close contest between two good sides, but Vitesse's flawless home record and Heerenveen's slight dip in form recently should be enough to see the title-chasers get back to winning ways.

Top betting tip