Preview: Vitesse vs. Fortuna Sittard - prediction, team news, lineups

The Geel en Zwart head into the weekend as one of just two sides yet to taste victory on home turf this season and will be looking to end this dry spell.

Match preview

Vitesse continue to struggle for results in the new campaign as they were condemned to a 3-0 defeat by Twente when the sides squared off last Saturday.

In a one-sided affair at De Grolsch Veste, Joshua Brenet, Virgil Misidjan and Gijs Smal all found the back of the net to hand the Tukkers their fifth league win of the season.

Vitesse have now failed to taste victory in three consecutive outings, picking up one point from the last nine, while they have managed just one win in their last 12 games across all competitions, picking up four draws and losing eight in that time.

Phillip Cocu's side, who secured an impressive sixth-placed finish last term, have picked up one win, two draws and lost five of their opening eight games to collect five points and sit 16th in the Eredivisie standings, two points and two places adrift of Sunday's bishops.

Vitesse's underwhelming start to the season has been owing to their poor home form and their defensive frailties as they have kept just one clean sheet so far and conceded 19 goals already — with only newly-promoted Volendam allowing more.

Fortuna Sittard, on the other hand, picked up successive victories for the first time this season as they saw off 10-man Volendam 2-0 at the Offermans Joosten Stadion last Sunday.

In a game where Bilal Ould-Chikh received his marching orders, 21-year-old Umaro Embalo and Turkish midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup scored first-half goals to condemn the visitors to their fourth defeat in five games.

Prior to that, Julio Velazquez's men picked up their first win of the season on September 17, when they edged out Excelsior 1-0 on home turf to end their nine-match winless run across all competitions.

Next up for Fortuna Sittard is the stern challenge of taking on a Vitesse side, who they have failed to defeat in each of the last six meetings between the sides, losing four and claiming two draws since a 2-1 win in January 2019.

While they will be looking to end this dry spell, they have struggled for results away from home this season, where they have picked up one point from their three games while scoring twice and shipping six in that time.

Vitesse Eredivisie form:

L

D

W

L

D

L

Fortuna Sittard Eredivisie form:

L

L

L

D

W

W

Team News

Vitesse will take to the pitch without the services of summer signing Mitchell Dijks, who suffered a knee injury while in action for Bologna in May.

He is joined on the club's injury table by German goalkeeper Markus Schubert, who is yet to feature this season after coming off injured in July's pre-season game against Oostende.

Meanwhile, Fortuna Sittard will have to make do with the absence of Spanish midfielder Ximo Navarro, who has been sidelined through a ruptured cruciate ligament.

Fellow midfielder Deroy Duarte is a major doubt for the visitors after the 23-year-old was forced off with a 12th-minute injury against Volendam last weekend.

In his absence, 26-year-old Dogan Erdogan should come into the fold, teaming up with German international Arianit Ferati at the centre of the park.

Vitesse possible starting lineup:

Scherpen; Arcus, Flamingo, Meulensteen, Cornelisse, Wittek; Bero, Tronstad, Kozlowski, Manhoef; Bialek

Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:

Pandur; Pinto, Guth, Navarro, Cox; Erdogan, Ferati; Cordoba, Ozyakup, Embalo; Yilmaz

We say: Vitesse 1-2 Fortuna Sittard

After a slow start to the season, Fortuna Sittard have hit their stride in recent weeks and will head into the weekend with sky-high confidence. Velazquez's side take on an out-of-sorts Vitesse side and we predict they will grind out a slender victory.

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