Vitesse will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions when they play host to Sparta Rotterdam on Friday.
The visitors, meanwhile, are fighting for their top-flight survival and enter Friday's contest in the Eredivisie relegation zone.
Match preview
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After booking their place in the Europa Conference League last 16, Vitesse turned their attention to a home league encounter against their local rivals NEC last weekend.
Despite a goalless first half, the contest still yielded five goals with NEC drawing first blood in the 49th minute courtesy of Mikkel Dueland's opener.
Vitesse responded positively to falling behind, restoring parity in the 54th-minute through Danilho Doekhi before a brace from Alois Oroz put the hosts in complete control.
Thomas Buitnik struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to round off a memorable performance with the three points keeping Vitesse on track for a place in the Eredivise's Europa Conference League playoffs.
The hosts have fared well at home in recent weeks, winning six of their last nine home matches in all competitions, including back-to-back victories in their last two outings at the GelreDome.
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Sparta Rotterdam currently reside in 17th place with two points separating them from the relegation playoff spot.
Friday's visitors put up a valiant fight last weekend when they narrowly lost out to 24-time Eredivise champions PSV Eindhoven.
Henk Fraser's side took a surprise lead into the break following Lennart Thy's opener, but Arno Verschueren's red card reduced Sparta Rotterdam to 10 men before goals from Mauro Junior and Ritsu Doan ensured that PSV would claim all three points.
Following consecutive home matches, Sparta Rotterdam will now head on the road for Friday's contest at the GelreDrome with the visitors looking to end a five-game winless away run in all competitions.
Although, with one away league win to their name this season, Fraser may be slightly pessimistic about his team's chances of victory on Friday.
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Team News
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Riechedly Bazoer is still an injury absentee for the hosts, although Maximilian Wittek is back available after serving a one-match suspension last weekend.
Wittek's return could see Million Manhoef drop down to the bench for Friday's contest.
Despite scoring two goals in the Gelderse derby, Oroz's first priority on Friday will be to restrict the attacks of Sparta Rotterdam when he lines up in a back three alongside Jacob Rasmussen and Doekhi.
As for the visitors, they will be forced into a change in midfield, with Verschueren suspended following his red card last weekend.
Verschueren's dismissal could result in a midfield reshuffle, with Sven Mijnans moving into a more central position, while Laurent Jans could come into the side to take up a place on the right wing.
After scoring his first goal of the calendar year, Thy will be looking for more when he starts upfront alongside Mario Engels.
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Houwen; Oroz, Rasmussen, Doekhi; Dasa, Tronstad, Domgjoni, Bero, Wittek; Baden Frederiksen, Openda
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Abels, Beugelsdijk, Auassar, Durmisi; Jans, Mijnans, De Kamps, Van Crooij; Thy, Engles
We say: Vitesse 3-2 Sparta Rotterdam
These sides have already faced each other on two occasions this season, with Vitesse prevailing in a cup contest, while the reverse league encounter finished in a 2-2 draw.
Although Sparta Rotterdam have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, Vitesse carry momentum into this game, and we think that they will prove too strong for the visitors on Friday.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Vitesse win with a probability of 68.83%. A draw had a probability of 19.8% and a win for Sparta Rotterdam had a probability of 11.37%.
The most likely scoreline for a Vitesse win was 1-0 with a probability of 13.93%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (13.92%) and 3-0 (9.28%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.26%), while for a Sparta Rotterdam win it was 0-1 (4.63%). The actual scoreline of 0-1 was predicted with a 4.6% likelihood.
