RKC Waalwijk welcome Vitesse to the Mandemakers Stadion for a relegation six pointer on Saturday evening. The sides are separated by just two points, with the home side occupying the relegation play-off spot. However, with just one win in their last five they have allowed Vitesse to close the gap to just the two points, thanks to the side picking up a win and a draw in their previous five.
During the first meeting in Arnheim, Waalwijk were 2-0 winners. Goals from Yassin Oukili and a late Richonell Margaret strike were enough, with Vitesse having seen Million Manhoef sent off after an hour. Opening goal scorer Oukili has certainly been the sides best player, with the midfielder having five goals to his name this season. However, Michiel Kramer is the sides top scorer with six. Scoring has certainly been a struggle of late for the side, with the only two goals scored in the past five games coming in the 2-0 win over NEC Nijmegen. Their past three defeats have all been by one goal to nil, suggesting that they are able to stay in games but cannot convert any chances. Their home form reads 12 played, three wins, two draws and seven defeats.
For their opponents Vitesse, a recent upturn in form was halted by a 2-1 defeat to FC Twente last time out. But a draw against FC Volendam, in a game they dominated, and a win over Excelsior Rotterdam have given the fans some hope that they can beat the drop. Like Waalwijk, finding the net has been a struggle. The side have only scored 19 goals in 24 games this season, the worst in the Eredivisie, but only one less than their opponents. Marco Van Ginkel leads the side with four, with Amine Boutrah the only other player to have scored more than one with his two goals. Remarkably the side have performed better away from home than at home. With only one win in Arnheim, their other three have all come on the road. They are yet to draw away from home, with nine defeats. They have also scored more (11) away from home than at home (8).
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
