- The visitors are the in-form team.
- Cambuur Leeuwarden have two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five home matches.
- Excelsior Rotterdam are unbeaten from their last six away matches (W4, D2).
Clash of styles at Kooi Stadium
Cambuur and Excelsior should provide plenty of action on Friday as this looks to be a classic clash of footballing philosophies.
The hosts want to play in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system under boss Johan Plat and will always try to keep the ball and build from the back, while Excelsior under Ruben den Uil usually play a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-4-3 structure and are a much more direct unit, capable of playing with three up top if the occasion demands. They will pressure Cambuur and look to pounce on any loose balls in dangerous areas.
That should make for a lively midfield matchup with the hosts looking to play through the pressure and the visitors hunting for turnovers in the advanced areas. Excelsior have been ruthless in this regard in 2026-2027 and are the away side in much better form, so the away win looks a more favorable option than the home upset at the time of writing. Our Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Excelsior Rotterdam preview points to a fascinating tactical battle.
Excelsior can edge out Cambuur
Excelsior are the slight favourites to win on Friday at 2.54 and Cambuur are listed at 2.48. The draw, priced up at 3.65, is also a possibility as these two sides have never had a stalemate in two meetings to date, but Excelsior are the team to side with in this Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Excelsior Rotterdam prediction.
Cambuur's form has been mixed to poor with two wins from their last five matches, while they are on a two-game losing streak heading into this fixture. Excelsior have four wins and one draw in their last five, but are on a four-game winning streak.
Excelsior have not won their last away game at Cambuur, which gives the home side a little hook to hang onto, but the value in the Rotterdam side's odds is hard to ignore at this stage of the season and with the information we have available. The Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Excelsior Rotterdam betting tips lean toward the visitors.
Goals look likely in the Leeuwarden
There is enough evidence from the last meeting, which Excelsior won 3-2 at home, to suggest these clubs can serve up an end-to-end game when they meet and we will probably see one again on Friday.
Over 2.5 goals looks like a good value option at 1.62, while Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.5 is definitely playable based on the recent performances of both teams. A 1-3-type scoreline or an Excelsior win and both teams to score selection would probably fit the situation best, and the Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Excelsior Rotterdam prediction remains for a high-scoring contest.
Cambuur have scored 1.20 goals and conceded 1.20 goals per home match across all current competitions, while Excelsior have hit 17 goals in six away games across all current competitions, so the net should bulge at both ends.
