Excelsior vs Utrecht Predictions

Both Excelsior and Utrecht returned to winning ways at the weekend, but on Friday only one can make it back to back victories as the pair clash in the Eredivisie. Excelsior sit eleventh in the table and will be relieved to have ended their three game losing streak with a narrow 2-1 win over Emmen on Sunday, while Utrecht cruised to three points against De Graafschap at home with the scoreline ending 5-0.

There wasn’t too much between Emmen and Excelsior when the pair met on Sunday, and the hosts will have been left very disappointed not to have at least picked up a point. Emmen had 53% of the overall possession, more corners, and more shots than Excelsior during the ninety minutes, but the visitors were much more clinical in the final third. The two teams went in level at the break, despite the best efforts of Emmen who had their chances to break the deadlock.

The hosts didn’t have to wait very long to open the scoring though as Jansen made it 1-0 in the forty-seventh minute after good work from teammate Cavlan who claimed the assist. That goal seemed to galvanise the visitors and in the sixtieth minute Excelsior’s top scorer Messaoud brought the two sides back onto level terms. Emmen continued to create chances, but were often forced into taking pot shots from outside of the box. With the game seemingly heading for a draw the visitors mustered one last attack and with eighty-nine minutes on the clock Koolwijk scored a dramatic winning goal for Excelsior completely against the run of play.

Messaoud moved onto five Eredivisie goals for the season, moving two ahead of teammate Bruins, and will lead the line for Excelsior on Friday night. Janssen and van de Streek joint top score in the league for Utrecht this season with three goals apiece and both players are fit and ready to take on Excelsior this week. Both players were on target inside the opening eighteen minutes against De Graafschap as Utrecht raced into a 2-0 lead.

The hosts went in at the break 3-0 up thanks to a twenty-fourth minute from Kerk which practically ended any hopes the travelling fans had of their side getting something out of the match. The hosts took their foot off the gas in the early stages of the second half, but Venema scored twice in the last ten minutes to wrap up an impressive 5-0 win for Utrecht. De Graafschap were limited to just one shot on target by a fantastic defensive performance from the home side, along with some clinical finishing, earned Utrecht a thoroughly deserved three points.

Utrecht have started the season really well and head into Friday’s game as the clear form favourites with five wins from their last six matches, but the hosts will be buoyed by last weekends win over Emmen which ended a three game losing streak in the Eredivisie. We’re confident that Utrecht will win on Friday and that both teams will score in the process. Utrecht have won four of their last five matches against Excelsior and both teams have scored in the last five meetings between the two clubs. Excelsior’s last four matches have seen both teams score, while three of Utrecht’s last six matches have also seen both teams score.