The Eerste Divisie prepares for a compelling mid-table clash as Almere City welcomes Vitesse to the Yanmar Stadion on October 10, 2025, at 18:15 UTC. This encounter pits two sides with aspirations of climbing the league standings against each other, promising a battle of wills and tactics. With both teams displaying inconsistent, yet often high-scoring, recent form, the stakes are significant. Will Almere City leverage their home advantage and strong attacking talent to secure a vital win, or can Vitesse’s creative spark find a way to spoil the party on the road? The answer to these questions will undoubtedly shape their trajectories in the fiercely competitive Dutch second tier.
Head-to-Head
Historically, the fixture between Almere City and Vitesse has been a limited but intriguing one. These two clubs have met only twice in competitive matches. In their previous encounters:
- Total Matches Played: 2
- Almere City Wins: 1 (50%)
- Vitesse Wins: 0 (0%)
- Draws: 1 (50%)
The goal difference in these direct matches heavily favors Almere City, with a tally of 6 goals to Vitesse’s 1. The most recent meeting saw Almere City secure a dominant 5-0 victory over Vitesse in December 2023. Prior to that, a match in March 2024 ended in a 1-0 win for Almere City. These results suggest Almere City has historically had the upper hand, especially when playing at home.
Current Form & Team News
Almere City:
Almere City’s recent form leading up to this match has been a mixed bag, showing moments of brilliance mixed with defensive vulnerabilities. Over their last five matches, their record stands at (W-L-L-L-W).
- Almere City 5-0 FC Eindhoven (Win)
- ADO Den Haag 2-1 Almere City (Loss)
- Almere City 4-0 Jong FC Utrecht (Win)
- De Graafschap 3-2 Almere City (Loss)
- Helmond Sport 2-1 Almere City (Loss)
Despite some recent losses, Almere City has demonstrated a potent attack, scoring 13 goals in their last five outings. Byron Burgering has been particularly impressive, leading the competition with 7 goals, making him a key player to watch. Emanuel Poku also stands out with the most shots on target per match for Almere City. Notably, Bas Huisman, a striker, joined Almere City from Vitesse on a free transfer in August 2025, adding an interesting narrative to this fixture. As of now, there are no reported significant injuries or suspensions that would drastically alter Almere City’s lineup.
Vitesse:
Vitesse enters this match with a slightly more favorable recent record compared to their opponents, with a form of (W-L-W-W-L) in their last five matches.
- Vitesse 1-2 FC Den Bosch (Loss)
- Vitesse 2-0 Jong FC Utrecht (Win)
- FC Emmen 2-4 Vitesse (Win)
- Vitesse 1-2 Willem II (Loss)
- Vitesse 3-1 Helmond Sport (Win)
Vitesse has also shown their offensive capabilities, having scored 11 goals in their last five matches. Adam Tahaui has been instrumental in creating chances for Vitesse, leading the team with 5 big chances created and 3 assists this season. Yuval Ranon also contributes significantly with the most shots on target per match for Vitesse. Similar to Almere City, there are no widely reported major injury or suspension concerns for Vitesse that would sideline key players for this match.
Tactical Preview
This match at Yanmar Stadion is likely to be an open affair, with both teams showing a preference for attacking football and a tendency for high-scoring encounters. Almere City, playing at home, will likely look to assert themselves early, leveraging their strong offensive unit led by Byron Burgering. They have averaged 2.36 goals per match at home this season, indicating their potency in front of their fans. Expect a formation that allows their wingers and central attackers to operate freely, potentially a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, aiming to exploit any defensive lapses from Vitesse.
Vitesse, on the other hand, will seek to counter Almere City’s aggression with their own creative outlets. Adam Tahaui’s ability to create chances will be crucial for Vitesse to unlock Almere City’s defense. Given both teams’ propensity for goals, the midfield battle will be key in dictating the tempo and controlling possession. Vitesse’s average of 1.90 goals per match this season suggests they are equally capable of finding the back of the net. A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 could be Vitesse’s chosen setup, allowing them to be defensively solid while transitioning quickly into attack.
Defensive solidity will be a concern for both sides, as their recent results indicate a vulnerability to conceding goals. Both Almere City’s home matches and Vitesse’s away matches have often seen over 1.5 and 2.5 goals, pointing towards a likely goal-fest. The Yanmar Stadion pitch conditions are expected to be standard, and with no extreme weather predicted, the focus will purely be on the tactical battle and individual performances.
