Vitesse vs Groningen prediction: NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie betting tips on match 2023-05-20 12:30.
With their vital 2-0 win at home to Cambuur last round, Vitesse Arnhem reached the magical threshold of 34 points that will prove sufficient to keep them in this competition. Although their gap to 16th placed Emmen is the equivalent of two goals, a goal difference 17 strikes superior will keep them safe even in the worst case scenario. Nonetheless, they’ll be keen to pick up one or more points in front of their home fans before the party can begin.
One of Vitesse’s long-term concerns are also now behind them after they recently settled a long-term dispute over their tenancy of the Gelredome that threatened to bring their club licence into question. But the takeover of potential new owner Coley Parry has not yet been approved, so their future is still somewhat up in the air.
Upcoming opponents FC Groningen don’t have to worry about a takeover, but there has been the makings of a coup in the stands. Violent ultras forced the club to play at home behind closed doors at an empty Euroborg for a second time and, after they stormed the pitch when their imminent relegation was confirmed in Deventer, the fallout became even uglier.
After consultation between the club and local authorities, it was decided that their final home game of the season against Sparta Rotterdam would also have the gates locked to prevent further troubles. But the more than 400 Groningen fans who subjected themselves to background checks and agreed to travel from the Euroborg south to Arnhem by bus (and back immediately after the game) had their tickets cancelled. With that, Groningen will be playing out the final 260 minutes of their disastrous campaign without any support.
Players to watch: Polish loanee Bartosz Białek shot his team to a new Eredivisie with two goals last time out, for his fourth and fifth of the season. Groningen’s Laros Duarte registered just his second goal from 23 league matches against Ajax. Only in the 2018/2019 season did he score more often.
Hot streak: FC Groningen have failed to win each of their last 13 Eredivisie away games since a triumph at Cambuur last September.