Vitesse vs Excelsior Predictions

Vitesse return from the winter break looking for three points that would take them back into the top four in the Eredivisie, for twenty-four hours at least, when they play host to Excelsior. The visitors form dipped towards the end of last year culminating in three defeats on the run in the Eredivisie and another loss for Excelsior could see them drop into the bottom three this weekend.

Vitesse twice came from behind to rescue a point away at De Graafschap in their last Eredivisie game of 2018. A twelfth minute strike from Olijve handed the hosts the lead, but the teams went in level at the break thanks to an equalising goal from Ødegaard in the forty-third minute. Vitesse were creating more chances in the second half, but it was De Graafschap that retook the lead in the fifty-eighth minute through Narsingh. The visitors weren’t behind for long though and duly equalised in the sixty-fifth minute thanks to a strike from midfielder Bero. The game ended all square, but with 54% of the possession, more corners, and more shots than their hosts during the ninety minutes, Vitesse probably should have claimed all three points.

Excelsior were hammered by high flying Heracles in their last match before the winter break, going down by three goals to nil in their own backyard. The visitors top scorer Peterson opened the scoring in the thirty-fifth minute, and teammate Kuwas scored another before the break to double Heracles’ advantage. In the second half Excelsior gave it their best effort but never really looked likely to score, and with sixty-six minutes on the clock Mohammed Osman stroked home a third goal for Heracles and ended any faint hopes of a comeback.

When Excelsior played host to Vitesse in the first half of the season the home side picked up all three points courtesy of a 2-0 win and ended the game with one man fewer on the pitch. A fortieth minute Clark own goal separated the two clubs at the break, and in truth the visitors deserved to at least be level at half time. The killer second goal also arrived against the run of play for Excelsior in the seventieth minute when defender Mattheij headed home. The hosts had goalkeeper Stevens sent-off in stoppage time, but Darfalou missed the resulting penalty and the scoreline ended 2-0.

With three wins, two draws, and one defeat from their last six matches, Vitesse head into Friday nights game as the clear form favourites. Excelsior have lost four of their last six, won one, and drawn one, but will be hoping to return from the winter break in a positive mindset. Bero, Linssen, and Matavž all joint top score for the hosts with five Eredivisie goals each so far this season, while Messaoud leads the way for Excelsior with the same total of league goals.

We’re confident that Vitesse will win and that over 2.5 goals will be scored in the process, and have backed the final scoreline to end 3-1. Vitesse have won three of their last six competitive matches, while Excelsior have lost four of their last six. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of the last seven encounters between these two clubs, whole over 2.5 goals have also been scored in five of Vitesse’s and each of Excelsior’s last six competitive games.