Vitesse is fully participating for a place in the knockout phase of the Conference League. The Arnhem team drew 3-3 at Stade Rennes on Thursday evening and can secure second place in a home game against NS Mura. The difference in goal difference with Tottenham can be decisive. What is the current standings and what are the scenarios for the last matches in Group G?
Group G:
1. Stade Rennes – 11 points (goal difference 10-7: +3)
2. Tottenham Hotspur – 7 points (goal difference 11-8: +3)
3. Vitesse – 7 points (goal difference 9-8: +1)
4. NS Mura – 3 points (goal difference 4-11: -7)
Program 9 December:
9 p.m. Tottenham Hotspur – Stade Rennes
9 p.m. Vitesse – NS Mura
Below are the tie-breakers in case Tottenham and Vitesse finish with the same number of points in the group stage. Behind it is shown in brackets how the clubs relate to each other in a specific tiebreak.
Tie-breakers with an equal number of points:
1. Points in head-to-head matches (both 3, inconclusive)
2. Goal difference in mutual matches (3-3, so no definitive answer. Away goals have no added value in this tiebreak due to the abolition of the away goals rule)
3. Goals scored in mutual matches (both 3, inconclusive)
4. Goal difference in all group matches (+3 to +1 in favor of Tottenham)
5. Goals scored in all group matches (11 to 9 in favor of Tottenham)
6. Away goals scored in all group matches (7 to 3 in favor of Vitesse)
7. Number of wins in the group (both 2, no definitive answer)
8. Number of away victories in the group (1 to 0 in favor of Vitesse)
If these eight tiebreakers are inconclusive, the team with the least number of disciplinary points (direct red card = 3 points, double yellow card = 3 points, single yellow card = 1 point) is considered and finally the UEFA place coefficient ranking.
What should Vitesse do to hibernate?
If both Tottenham and Vitesse win without a goal against, Vitesse must play with at least two additional goals difference to win against Tottenham. So if Tottenham beat Stade Rennes 1-0, Vitesse must beat Mura 3-0. In that case, both teams would have a goal difference of 12-8. Then tiebreakers 1 to 5 would all be inconclusive, so that number 6 comes into effect, and that is in favor of the Arnhem team.
But if Tottenham books a minimal win with a goal against, for example 2-1, Vitesse must three extra goals difference to win. In this case, Vitesse would have to win 4-0 against Mura. Then Tottenham’s goal difference would be 13-9 and Vitesse’s 13-8.
The other scenarios
Of course there are also less complicated scenarios conceivable that can help Vitesse to second place. If Tottenham loses at home to Stade Rennes, Vitesse has one point enough to push through. Only if the defeat of Tottenham is very large, Vitesse can still convert in a defeat against Mura. If Tottenham draws against Stade Rennes, Vitesse must win in GelreDome.