FC Utrecht welcomes Vitesse to Stadion Galgenwaard for the first leg of their Europa League Playoff semifinal tie on Thursday night with kickoff at 22:00.
Utrecht did well to finish the season inside the top eight despite only winning two of their final league matches. They therefore remain in for European football next season through playoffs.
They head into the match off the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to relegated Willem II on the final day of the season. They will be determined to bounce back to winning ways here as look to move one step closer to securing European qualification for the first time since 2010/11 campaign.
However, success on Thursday could prove challenging for Utrecht as they have fallen to Vitesse in four of their five matches, failing to win any.
Vitesse have also made good campaign this season with the side finishing sixth with 51 points from 34 games. They will now be looking to secure a place in the Europa Conference League through the playoffs.
Vitesse head into the match on the back off a 2-2 draw with League winners Ajax, which is a confidence booster heading into the playoffs.
They are unbeaten at Stadion Galgenwaard in their last five visits and they will be hoping to extend that run on Thursday.
Utrecht vs Vitesse head to head
Both sides have met in 63 encounters since 1993 with Vitesse claiming 29 victories, while Utrecht claimed 20 victories and there have been 14 draws.
- Utrecht 1-1 Vitesse 20/02/22
- Vitesse 2-1 Utrecht 07/11/21
- Utrecht 1-3 Vitesse 14/03/21
- Vitesse 1-0 Utrecht 12/01/21
- Vitesse 2-1 Utrecht 05/10/19
Home
- Willem II 3-0 Utrecht
- Utrecht 2-2 Alkmaar
- Zwolle 1-1 Utrecht
- Utrecht 1-0 Nijmegen
- Feyenoord 2-1 Utrecht
Away
- Vitesse2-2 Ajax
- Sittard 1-2 Vitesse
- Vitesse 1-2 Heerenveen
- GA Eagles 1-2 Vitesse
- Willem II 1-0 Vitesse
Utrecht team news
Utrecht will be without Reda Akmum, Naoki Maeda and Fabian De Keijzer due to injuries, while Henk Veerman, Tommy St Jago and bart Ramselaar are doubts.
Vitesse team news
Vitesse will be without Maximilian Wittek , Yann Gboho and Jacon Ramsmussen due to injuries.
Prediction and odds
- Vitesse win
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
