The line-up of Vitesse for the crucial Conference League game against Stade Rennes is known. The number five in the Eredivisie must win in France to keep qualification for the knockout phase in their own hands. Thomas Letsch surprisingly offers Daan Huisman a basic place in the vanguard. The duel with the leader of Group G starts at 6.45 pm in the Roazhon Park.
Vitesse has to do without goalkeeper Markus Schubert and defender Danilho Doekhi, who are both suspended. They both received a red card in the lost away game against Tottenham Hotspur (3-2) three weeks ago. Jeroen Houwen and Dominik Oroz are their replacements. Due to the absence of Doekhi, Matús Bero wears the captain’s armband. The choice for Houwen is a logical one for trainer Letsch. Right in defense, Oroz is preferred over left-footed Tomas Hajek as a right leg.
“We miss our captain and goalkeeper and now others have to stand up,” Letsch announced at the press conference on Wednesday. “Everyone gets the confidence. Houwen kept very well against Feyenoord and as a substitute against Tottenham.” Riechedly Bazoer is listed as a midfielder in the UEFA line-up, but probably plays in the defense. Romaric Yapi plays in the right-back position, who is surprisingly preferred over Eli Dasa.
Nineteen-year-old Huisman plays in the vanguard, who only had a basic place this season in the competition match with Fortuna Sittard (1-1) on September 25. In contrast, Thomas Buitink and Nikolai Baden Frederiksen start on the bench. Huisman plays with Openda in the forefront. The Vitesse star attacker started on the bench against Tottenham three weeks ago after he showed up late at the match meeting. At the time, Buitink was behind a two-man vanguard that consisted of Yann Gboho and Baden Frederiksen.
Vitesse is in third place in Group G with six points from four games. If the Arnhem team do not win in France, but Tottenham Hotspur do win on Thursday evening at NS Mura, elimination in the Conference League is a fact. If Vitesse records a victory over Stade Rennes, the team can secure qualification for the next round in the final match against Mura.
Setup Vitesse: hew; Yapi, Oroz, Bazoer, Rasmussen, Wittek; Gboho, Trondstad, Bero; Openda, Huisman