Vitesse and FC Volendam Fight for the Last Lifeline

For the fans of Vitesse and FC Volendam, there hasn't been much to cheer about this season. Both teams have won only three times in the Eredivisie and stand at a total of twelve points. That these together are not many points is evident from the fact that this century it is only the fourth time that two different teams have taken twelve points or fewer in the first 21 rounds, something that last happened in 2010/11 (VVV-Venlo 10 points and Willem II 7 points). History has also shown that with this number of points, you are not completely written off for death, as the last team with a maximum of twelve points after 21 games was FC Emmen in 2020/21 with six points, and they ultimately reached the sixteenth place with thirty points (after which they were relegated in the play-offs).

Looking at the play of Vitesse and FC Volendam, it's not strange that they are at the bottom of the ranking. They are the two teams with the least Expected Goals this Eredivisie season, meaning they produce the least quality goal-rich chances. Defensively things aren't much better, with FC Volendam conceding the most Expected Goals and Vitesse following in the third spot from below.

For Vitesse, the match against FC Volendam might come at the right moment. In the first round of this season, the Arnhemmers fought their way to a 1-2 victory against the North Hollanders, aided in part by a red card for Robert Mühren. The results at home also offer hope for the yellow-blacks. Vitesse lost only one of the fifteen home duels with FC Volendam in the Eredivisie (0-1 in April 1990), although it should be said that draws were also frequent (9 times, 5 Vitesse victories).

Should FC Volendam fall to the last place on the ranking list after the coming weekend, it's not necessarily a disaster. The Eel Fishermen have been performing remarkably well this season when the need is highest: FC Volendam began five Eredivisie matches while at the start of the day they were in the eighteenth spot on the ranking list, winning three of these, drawing two, and losing none. In the sixteen matches where the team started placed seventeenth or higher, they lost fifteen times and drew once. With their backs against the wall, the Volendammers seem to perform best.

In short, it's a search for bright spots at both teams, but survival is certainly not yet impossible. A victory on Sunday could be a first step in the right direction, who will grab the last lifeline?

Follow Vitesse vs. FC Volendam match live on Sunday at 14:30 on ESPN!