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

On the other hand, the away side make the journey to Arnhem this weekend seeking to complete a league double over their hosts for the first time ever.

Match preview

Vitesse took one step closer to preserving their top-flight status courtesy of an emphatic 4-1 win over NEC Nijmegen at Stadion de Goffert on Sunday.

First-half efforts from Matus Bero and Kacper Kozlowski put Phillip Cocu's men in the driving seat before Vito van Crooy's own goal and a Ryan Flamingo strike put the result beyond doubt.

Consequently, Geel en Zwart have moved up to 13th place in the Eredivisie table, five points clear of the drop zone with as many matches left to play.

Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose as the last 10 meetings between the teams have been split evenly into four wins apiece and two draws.

Off the back of a resounding 2-0 victory over Go Ahead Eagles in their last home encounter, Saturday's hosts now set out to secure back to back wins in front of their fans for the first time since July.

Excelsior showed great resolve to see off the threat of Go Ahead Eagles in a narrow 2-1 triumph when the teams went head to head at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Friday.

Marinus Dijkhuizen's men opened the scoring in the early exchanges of the second half through Couhaib Driouech but were pegged back by Willum Thor Willumsson after which Julian Baas grabbed the winner.

A tally of 27 points from 29 outings leaves 15th in the league standings, just two points clear of the bottom three heading into the final stretch of the season.

With a daunting assignment against league leaders Feyenoord to follow Saturday's contest, the away side now go in search of a morale-boosting victory.

Vitesse Eredivisie form:

L

L

D

L

W

W

SBV Excelsior Eredivisie form:

L

L

W

D

L

W

Team News

Vicente Besuijen and Maxime Awoudja are ruled out of contention for Excelsior due to muscle injuries, while Nathan Markelo is still nursing a knock which he picked up on international duty.

Jacky Donkor is yet to feature for the visitors in 2023 due to a knee injury and the 24-year-old is still a long way off making his comeback to action.

After coming off six minutes into his side's defeat to PSV Eindhoven, Sven Nieuwpoort missed the win over Go Ahead Eagles last time out but the 30-year-old could return to the fold here.

Davy Propper is Vitesse's only guaranteed absentee for this weekend's contest as the Dutchman continues to battle with a long-term knee problem.

Since his return to the hosts' starting XI, Mohamed Sankoh has directly contributed to a goal in each of his two outings, making the winger one to keep an eye on here.

Vitesse possible starting lineup:

Scherpen; Wittek, Isimat-Mirin, Flamingo, Arcus; Van Ginkel, Meulensteen; Kozlowski, Bero, Manhoef; Sankoh

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Van Gassel; Zagre, Pierie, El Yaakoubi, Horemans; Baas, Koopmeiners; Azarkan, Goudmijn, Driouech; Lamprou

We say: Vitesse 2-0 SBV Excelsior

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