AZ Alkmaar head into Sunday's fixture with Vitesse looking to record their fifth successive victory in the Eredivisie.
While the visitors are just two points adrift of second-placed PSV Eindhoven, Vitesse will move to within one point of third with maximum points at the weekend.
Match preview
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After successive defeats at the end of January, AZ boss Pascal Jansen would have had concerns over whether his squad were in the right mindset to remain in the top five.
However, four successive wins, a run which has also included 12 goals, has left Jansen in no doubt that this group of players can still finish as runners-up this season.
Myron Boadu has been back on the goal trail, netting five goals in two matches to take his tally for the season to 11 strikes.
With three goals being conceded at the other end during the same fixtures, the youngster's contribution has been required, but Jansen needs his team to find a better balance to fulfil their potential.
At a time when AZ have been on an upward trajectory, Vitesse have lost their way, recording three defeats in four league contests.
A strong second-half performance helped secured a 4-1 victory over struggling VVV-Venlo last weekend, a result backed up with success against the same opposition in the KNVB semi-finals.
Nevertheless, Thomas Letsch knows that Vitesse must improve if they are to remain in the hunt for a guaranteed spot in next season's Europa League, as well as keeping their noses ahead of Feyenoord.
Chelsea loanee Armando Broja has scored in his last three games, the 19-year-old having now netted 10 times in all competitions this campaign.
Team News
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Barring any late fitness issues, Letsch is expected to name the same Vitesse XI which started the league fixture against Venlo.
Letsche has been able to rest players during the closing stages of the recent double-header, helping him head into this game with a fully-fit squad.
Jansen could also opt against making any alterations to his AZ starting lineup, having had a week to prepare for this fixture.
Teun Koopmeiners remains the star man for AZ, his 13th goal of the season being scored in the 4-2 triumph over Feyenoord last week.
Jeremy Helmer is expected to be the only absentee through injury.
Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Doekhi, Rasmussen, Bazoer; Dasa, Tronstad, Tannane, Bero, Wittek; Openda, Broja
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Sugawara, Hatzidiakos, Martins Indi, Wijndal; Koopmeiners, Midtsjo; Stengs, Gudmundsson, Karlsson; Boadu
We say: Vitesse 1-1 AZ Alkmaar
Having established a clear advantage over sixth spot, AZ will feel that they can push for all three points with minimal pressure. Nevertheless, Vitesse can only have benefitted from their two victories over Venlo, leading us to predict a competitive draw.
Top tip
Darren Plant
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 AZ Alkmaar win with a probability of 43.91%. A win for Vitesse had a probability of 32.21% and a draw had a probability of 23.9%.
The most likely scoreline for an AZ Alkmaar win was 1-2 with a probability of 9.07%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-1 (7.9%) and 0-2 (6.54%). The likeliest Vitesse win was 2-1 (7.6%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (10.95%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 7.6% likelihood.
