Preview: Vitesse vs. Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the away side make the journey to Arnhem this weekend looking to make it five wins in their most recent six outings across all competitions.

Match preview

Off the back of a disappointing cup exit against lower league opposition, Vitesse saw off the threat of FC Emmen in a tight affair on October 22.

Thomas Letsch's men raced to a commanding lead at half time thanks to strikes from Gabriel Vidovic and Maximilian Wittek before Mark Diemers pulled one back through the second half.

With 11 points from as many games this term, Geel en Zwart have moved up into 14th place in the Eredivisie table, three points clear of the drop zone.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing side with little to choose between the teams of late, as the last seven meetings have yielded three wins apiece and one draw.

Having ended an eight-game winless run on their own turf last time out, Saturday's hosts now seek to record back to back wins in front of their fans for the first time since July.

Sparta Rotterdam picked up a fifth straight victory on their own patch courtesy of a comprehensive 3-1 win over Fortuna Sittard at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel on Saturday.

Maurice Steijn's men went behind to Tijjani Noslin's 19th-minute opener, but they managed to draw level through Arno Verschueren after which second-half strikes from Vito van Crooy and the aforementioned Verschueren turned the game on its head.

De Kasteelheren remain sixth in the league standings but have now closed the gap on Feyenoord in fifth to four points albeit having played one game more.

Currently with the joint-fewest goals scored away from home so far, Saturday's visitors will need to up the ante at the attacking end of the pitch if they are to add to their solitary triumph on the road this term.

Vitesse Eredivisie form:

L

D

L

L

W

W

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

W

D

W

W

L

W

Team News

Since his summer arrival from Bologna, Mitchell Dijks remains without an appearance for Vitesse due to a knee injury which is set to keep him out of Saturday's contest.

Kjell Scherpen has missed each of the hosts' last two games since he was forced off with an injury against Cambuur on October 15, and the goalkeeper remains a doubt for this one.

Tim Coremans is unavailable for Sparta Rotterdam as the goalkeeper continues to battle with a shoulder problem, while Jonathan de Guzman is yet to shake off a muscle problem.

The away side will also be without the services of 28-year-old Younes Namli, who is set to sit out a fifth consecutive match due to a knee injury.

Vitesse possible starting lineup:

Reiziger; Wittek, Cornelisse, Meulensteen, Arcus; Flamingo, Tronstad; Vidovic, Bero, Kozlowski; Bialek

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:

Olij; Micha, Auassar, Vriends, Sambo; Kitolano, Verschueren; Saito, Mijnans, Van Crooy; Lauritsen

We say: Vitesse 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam

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