On Sunday afternoon the bottom two in the Eredivisie will go head to head in Arnheim. Both sides have won just three games and drawn three, sitting level on 12 points. They also have identical goal difference, a pretty horrific -30. Volendam have scored 22 goals to Vitesse’s 15, meaning they get to sit in 17th rather than 18th. With the gap to safety at nine points, and the relegation play-off at six, a win for either side would certainly breathe some much needed life into their seasons.
However, for the side that loses, that may well be the end of their chances of automatic safety, with RKC Waalwijk in 16th being their only possible target. For Vitesse, relegation would mean a return to the second tier of Dutch football for the first time since the late 1980s. Their opponents Volendam are in their second season in the top flight since promotion in 2021/2022. Last season they achieved a 14th place finish and safety.
Back in August, the reverse fixture finished 2-1 to Vitesse. Volendam went 1-0 up but played the entire second-half down to 10 men, something that Vitesse eventually took advantage of with an 86th minute winner from Marco van Ginkel. The former Chelsea man remains the sides top scorer with just four goals this season. 34-year-old Robert Mühren leads the visitors with five goals in his 14 matches.
With Waalwijk travelling to Feyenoord on Sunday, this is one of the best chances both sides have to bridge the gap. In terms of form, neither side has won a game in 2024. Volendam have at least picked up a point, but in their last two games they have conceded nine goals. They can ill afford to defend as poorly when they travel to Arnheim this Sunday.
