After ten league games without a win, Excelsior Rotterdam bounced back last weekend, securing a 3-0 victory against SC Heerenveen for the second time this season. The question now lingers: can Marinus Dijkhuizen’s team achieve another triumph on Saturday? The challenge lies in the fact that they haven’t managed to do so in the last ten meetings with FC Utrecht (D4, L6).
Excelsior has displayed a tendency to score frequently this season but has also conceded quite a few goals. Last weekend, both teams found the net for nine consecutive league matches involving the Rotterdam-based club. With eight draws, Dijkhuizen’s men lead the Eredivisie in drawn matches. In six of those games, the score was level at half-time, a situation that Utrecht has encountered five times. The curiosity now centers around whether Excelsior can decipher Ron Jans’ plans, as the Utrecht coach remains undefeated in 17 of his 18 matches against Excelsior (W13, D5).
In the previous week, FC Utrecht became the first team to take points from PSV with a 1-1 draw in the Galgenwaard, extending their streak of unbeaten matches in the Eredivisie to ten. Although Jans’ team has ascended, they only emerged victorious in three of those games, placing them just a few spots above the danger zone.
The Domstedelingen are still grappling with the absence of scoring prowess from Anastasios Douvikas. The Greek striker scored 19 league goals last season, matching the total number of goals the entire team has scored in the Eredivisie this season. No Utrecht attacker has notched multiple goals in league competition. The quartet of center-forwards—Sam Lammers, Ole Romeny, Isac Lidberg, and Anthony Descotte—has collectively managed only two goals.
Players to watch: Excelsior’s Troy Parrott has been involved in five goals (G3, A2) in his last six league matches, while Victor Jensen has scored in three of his last five Eredivisie appearances.
Hot stat: Utrecht has drawn not only in four of their last five league matches but also in four of their last six meetings with Excelsior.
