PEC Zwolle vs Excelsior Predictions

Last weekend Zwolle secured a decent point on the road against AZ Alkmaar, while Excelsior returned to winning ways following their KNVB Beker exit via a 1-0 victory over VVV. On Saturday Zwolle play host to Excelsior with the pair separated by just two points in the Eredivisie table, and with the home side in decent form and the visitors winning last time out, we’re expecting a close game between two evenly matched teams.

Zwolle showed great spirit and determination in Alkmaar last weekend, as the visitors came from behind twice to rescue a share of the spoils. Idrissi opened the scoring in the tenth minute to put AZ into an early lead, but a thirty-sixth minute strike from van Crooij ensured the sides went in level at the half time break.

AZ certainly controlled the game with 61% of the overall possession and retook the lead in the seventy-sixth minute through Til. However, with just two minutes on the clock Flemming rescued a point for the visitors, who might not have created many chances, but converted two of them in key moments of the match and deserved a share of the spoils.

For all their domination, AZ had the same amount of shots on target as their guests, and even though the hosts had nine corners to Zwolle’s none, and ten shots off target to the visitors three, a draw was probably a fair result based on the games key chances.

With three goals in the league this season, van Crooij top scores for Zwolle and is just two away from his grand total for VVV in the previous campaign. Only van Duinen has scored more than once, other than van Crooij, with both of the forwards goals coming from the penalty spot. Messaoud leads the way in front of goal for the visitors with three in the Eredivisie so far, but the midfielder will miss Saturday’s game after being sent-off against VVV.

Messaoud played a key role in Excelsior’s victory over VVV last weekend before being shown a straight red card, as it was the midfielder who setup Ómarsson in the twentieth minute to score what turned out to be the games only goal.

VVV gave as good as they got during the ninety minutes and could, and probably should, have levelled the game on several occasions and maybe even gone on to claim all three points. Even after Messaoud’s eighty-fifth minute sending-off, VVV failed to make their chances and domination of the second half count and Excelsior held on to secure a 1-0 win.

Messaoud will certainly be missed on Saturday, and it puts more pressure on Bruins and Mahmudov to both create opportunities for their teammates and get further forward to provide more of a goal threat now that Messaoud is suspended. Excelsior currently boast a two point lead over Zwolle in the Eredivisie table and the visitors would probably be happy with a point this weekend.

We’re confident that Zwolle will continue their good form with a home win over Excelsior this weekend, and have backed the final score to read 1-0. Zwolle have won three of their last five in all competitions, while Excelsior have only won one of their last five. Each of Zwolle’s last three competitive wins have arrived under the same 1-0 scoreline, and the visitors top goalscorer is suspended for Saturday’s match.