De Graafschap vs Fortuna Sittard Predictions

The ambitions of both De Graafschap and Fortuna Sittard this season were simple, avoid relegation. The first season back in the big time has been tough for both clubs, but much more so for De Graafschap, who currently occupy last place. Fortuna Sittard are on course to finish highest of the newly promoted clubs and may even claim a top half finish if they play as well in the second half of the campaign as they did in the first.

Last time out De Graafschap held high flying Vitesse to a draw at the Stadion De Vijverberg in Doetinchem. Olijve handed the home side the lead in the twelfth minute, but Vitesse fought back before the break and levelled through Ødegaard. The second half panned out much the same as the first, with Narsingh handing De Graafschap their second lead of the match, only for Bero to equalise and earn Vitesse a point. A draw was the least Vitesse deserved and the visitors will have returned home frustrated with their defending and will see this match as two points dropped.

Fortuna Sittard and Groningen played out an entertaining goalless draw in the last round of matches before the winter break. The home side were reduced to ten-men on the stroke of half time when Smeets was shown a straight red card. Despite having a man sent-off, this game still looked like it could go either way and Fortuna Sittard still managed to come out of the game with 51% of the overall possession. Groningen had more shots on target and more corners during the ninety minutes, but a draw was the fair result.

A solitary strike from Lamprou separated Fortuna Sittard and De Graafschap at half time of their reverse league fixture in October, but five minutes after the restart El Jebli scored to bring the teams back onto level terms. Fortuna Sittard claimed all three points during the last seven minutes of the match when first Lamprou scored his brace to make it 2-1 and then teammate Ňinaj got in on the act to end any hopes of a De Graafscapt comeback, as the game ended 3-1.

With three wins, one draw, and two defeats it’s the visitors Fortuna Sittard that head into Sunday’s game as the form favourites. El Jebli and Serrarens joint top score in the league for De Graafschap with three goals apiece, but the team on a whole need to bring more goals into their game. El Messaoudi, Novakovich, and Stokkers all joint top score with four league goals for Fortuna Sittard, with teammates Diemers and Lamprou chipping in with three goals each.

We’re confident that both teams will score in Sunday’s match, and have backed the scoreline to end in a 2-1 win for Fortuna Sittard. Three of the last four meetings between the two clubs have seen both teams score, while both teams have scored in four of De Graafschap’s last five home games. The visitors have only failed to score in two of their last six matches, and Fortuna Sittard won the reverse fixture in October 3-1.