Preview: SBV Excelsior vs. Vitesse - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the away side make the journey to Rotterdam this weekend in search of what would be only a first victory in seven matches across all competitions.

Match preview

From what was seemingly a position of control, Excelsior were left red-faced as they fell to a 4-2 defeat against Sparta Rotterdam at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Saturday.

Marinus Dijkhuizen's men raced to a two-goal lead thanks to Kik Pierie and Lance Duijvestijn but were pegged back before the interval by Arno Verschueren and Tobias Lauritsen before second-half goals from Lauritsen and Charles-Andreas Brym completed a remarkable comeback.

As a result, De Roodzwarten remain 15th in the Eredivisie table, just three points clear of RKC Waalwijk in the battle to avoid relegation.

Coming up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams over the last 12 meetings which have yielded four wins apiece and as many stalemates.

Having won just one of eight home matches leading up to Sunday's affair, the hosts will be keen to turn things around in front of their fans.

Vitesse snapped a dismal run of five defeats on the bounce by playing out a 1-1 draw against FC Volendam in Sunday's encounter at GelreDome.

Edward Sturing's men trailed to Bilal Ould-Chikh's early opener but wasted no time levelling matters through Mica Pinto's first goal of the season.

With 13 points picked up from their 22 matches so far, Geel en Zwart sit bottom of the standings, a whopping eight points adrift of safety.

Currently on an eight-game losing streak away from home, Sunday's visitors have it all to do as they look to avoid another fruitless outing on the road.

SBV Excelsior Eredivisie form:

L

W

D

L

L

L

SBV Excelsior form (all competitions):

L

W

D

L

L

L

Vitesse Eredivisie form:

D

L

L

L

L

D

Vitesse form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

L

D

Team News

Excelsior's Raphael Eyongo is sidelined as he continues to battle with an ankle injury which has seen him fail to feature since July.

Lennard Hartjes also misses out for the hosts due to a knee problem, but the 20-year-old is making steady progress towards return to action.

Dutch duo Miliano Jonathans and Fode Fofana are unavailable for Vitesse through knee injuries, while Davy Propper continues to nurse a torn muscle.

Midfielder Mathijs Tielemans has missed four games in a row for the visitors through injury and is a major doubt for this weekend's clash.

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Van Gassel; Zagre, Pierie, Widell, Horemans; Goudmijn, Baas, Sandra, Driouech; Parrott, Duijvestijn

Vitesse possible starting lineup:

Room; Pinto, Hendriks, Oroz, Arcus; Meulensteen, Aaronson; Boutrah, Kozlowski, Moussa; Meerdink

We say: SBV Excelsior 1-0 Vitesse

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