- NEC have won 2 of their last 5 matches (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats).
- Excelsior have won 4 of their last 5 (1 defeat).
- NEC have won 4 of the last 5 H2Hs, with Excelsior winning the other. There have been no draws in this 5-game sequence.
Press versus counter clash at Stadion De Goffert
NEC Nijmegen are 10th in the Eredivisie 2026-2027 table on 3 points from 2 matches, and Excelsior Rotterdam are 9th on the same 3 points after 2 matches. This NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior Rotterdam preview suggests a competitive game between two teams who can be similarly tough to beat on their day.
NEC Nijmegen are the clear 1.4 favorites for the win here, with Excelsior Rotterdam 6.2 and the draw 5.1. NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior Rotterdam betting tips point to the draw at 5.1, and I will give you a couple of reasons for this selection. One is NEC's slightly leaky defending at home in the Eredivisie 2026-2027 to date (1.00 scored, 2.00 conceded), and the other is Excelsior's solid away record in the 2026/2027 season (1 match, 1 win, 0 defeats).
NEC have won 2 of their last 5 (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats) after a 2 match winning streak that has seen them beat Willem II 4-1 in the Eredivisie and Olympiakos Piraeus FC 2-1 in extra time in UEFA Champions League qualifying.
Dick Schreuder's NEC have looked very dynamic in this pair, playing an aggressive high-tempo 3-at-the-back system with wing-backs that press, a high energy pressing game and fast vertical combinations to get into the final third.
Ruben den Uil's Excelsior are set up more pragmatically, using the space they have to play a compact game, allowing players to be versatile in their shapes and then exploding into the offensive third when the space is there to hurt you.
Excelsior can get something from this fixture
Excelsior's Noah Naujoks has been a sharp final third threat, with 2 goals in 1 Eredivisie 2026-2027 match, and Irakli Yegoian has been a livewire in these matches, providing 2 assists in 2 games.
Kaj Sierhuis has been NEC's cutting edge, with 2 goals in 2 Eredivisie 2026-2027 matches, but Excelsior have looked dangerous on the counter, and the fact that they have already scored 4 away goals in the Eredivisie 2026-2027 suggests they can find the net again on Saturday.
The last time these teams met in the Eredivisie 2025/2026 season, NEC won 2-0 on the road, but they average 4.0 goals per game against the Kralingers at home over the last 5 H2Hs and have no draws in this fixture in the Eredivisie.
The NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior Rotterdam prediction is that NEC should edge this, but the visitors are good enough to keep it close.
Excelsior have a solid away form in the Eredivisie 2026/2027, and this looks like a fixture that NEC should edge, but the visitors are good enough to keep it close.
