Aiming to secure a place in the semi-final of this year's KNVB-Beker, SBV Excelsior and Vitesse clash at the Stadion Woudestein on Tuesday.

This is the first meeting between the sides since 2019, which is largely due to the home side's failure to secure promotion back into the Eredivisie since they were last relegated two years ago.

Match preview

Excelsior booked safe passage into the last eight by defeating fellow Eerste Divisie side MVV Maastricht 5-4 on penalties three weeks ago.

The game went into extra time after a 2-2 scoreline at the end of regulation time, but neither team was able to find a breakthrough despite coming close on multiple occasions.

Luc Mares was the villain as his missed penalty ultimately decided the game but nonetheless, he and his teammates can look back at their cup run with pride.

Since that cup triumph, the Roodzwarten have gone three league games without a defeat, picking up seven points and moving up to 10th place in the table as a result.

The hosts are one of two non-Eredivisie sides that remain in the competition alongside NEC Nijmegen, who will be hosting VVV-Venlo in their quarter-final involvement.

With the Eredivisie title increasingly looking like an impossible target, Vitesse's best chance of a first major trophy since 2017 lies in the KNVB-Beker.

Thomas Letsch's men kept that dream alive by beating ADO Den Haag 2-1 at home in the middle of last month to set up Tuesday's meeting with Excelsior.

However, they have struggled in the league since then, winning one of the subsequent four matches, and amassing only four points from a possible 12 in that time.

That downward spiral has put their titles hopes in massive jeopardy as they have fallen eight points behind current leaders Ajax, having played a game more.

SBV Excelsior KNVB Beker form: WWW
SBV Excelsior form (all competitions): LWWWDW

Vitesse KNVB Beker form: WW
Vitesse form (all competitions): WWWLDL

Team News

Elias Mar Omarsson has been on fire for the home team in the league as well as the KNVB-Beker this season, having scored 21 goals in general, including three in as many cup appearances to date.

Joining him in attack will be Joel Zwarts, whose only goal in the tournament so far came in the first round demolition of Helmond Sport.

Eli Dasa was hauled off with an injury in Vitesse's 1-0 loss to Heerenveen on Sunday, leaving him a doubt for this one, but the severity of the injury is yet to be ascertained.

Should he be deemed unable to feature, then Hillary Gong will be expected to replace him in the team, just as he did last time out.

With games against FC Twente, PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar on the horizon, Thomas Letsch will be tempted to rotate his side for this one, and hand out opportunities to a couple of fringe players.

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:
Damen; Mendes, Matthys, Wieffer, Aberkane, Horemans; Bruins, Baas, Niemeijer; Zwarts, Mar Omarsson

Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Wittek, Rasmussen, Bazoer, Doekhi, Gong; Tannane, Bero, Bruns; Broja, Openda

We say: SBV Excelsior 0-2 Vitesse

Vitesse will fancy their chances of winning this one against an opposition from the second tier of Dutch football. We expect them to come out on top, and progress into the next round of the cup.

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