Utrecht vs Excelsior Match Analysis & Prediction
12/11/2023 10:00 pm
Both looking to build on respectable home points last time out, FC Utrecht will host high-flying Excelsior at Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday night in the Eredivisie.
The hosts are enjoying their longest unbeaten spell of the season and seem primed to climb out of the bottom three, while Excelsior are starting to slip following a sensational opening to their campaign.
After a spell of three successive defeats against NEC, newly-promoted Almere City and strugglers FC Volendam over a month ago, Utrecht have put together a four-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, which has made the clouds swirling around Stadion Galgenwaard a lot less gloomy.
With Utrecht finishing seventh or higher in the Eredivisie in all of the last eight campaigns, the club’s current standing of 17th with eight points after 11 matches is highly concerning, but it is understood that Ron Jans is set to be afforded time to turn fortunes around, with the 65-year-old only taking charge in September.
Since the 5-1 humbling against Feyenoord and the 2-0 defeat to Almere, Jan’s side have fared reasonably well at their Stadion Galgenwaard home, securing results against Ajax, Waalwijk and Twente across the Eredivisie and KNVB Beker.
Excelsior hosted title-chasing AZ Alkmaar last Saturday knowing they needed to regain their defensive solidity following second-half capitulations against PEC Zwolle and Volendam at the end of October, and they did remarkably well to earn a point from their encounter with the second-placed side.
After securing their first-tier status with a respectable 15th-placed finish last season, Marinus Dijkhuizen’s side have their sights set on lofty ambitions this time around, and Excelsior are currently seventh in the standings, two points inside of the Europa Conference League playoff spots.
Utrecht vs. Excelsior Head to head
In the 22 previous meetings between these two teams, Utrecht have claimed 13 victories while Excelsior have won two, and they have drawn in seven. Excelsior have scored 25 goals and conceded 41 in the process.
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04/02/2018Excelsior2Utrecht2Eredivisie
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30/11/2018Excelsior3Utrecht3Eredivisie
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23/02/2019Utrecht0Excelsior0Eredivisie
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02/10/2022Excelsior0Utrecht1Eredivisie
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25/01/2023Utrecht1Excelsior0Eredivisie
Utrecht Team News
Utrecht have been hit with a major blow to their attacking ranks this week, with Belgian striker Anthony Descotte ruled out until the New Year after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
Ole Romney will be a shorter-term absentee for the hosts, but the former FC Emmen attacker will not feature before the next international break.
Utrecht's Last 5 Matches
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12/10/2023NEC1Utrecht2Club Friendlies
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22/10/2023Utrecht4Ajax3Eredivisie
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28/10/2023Fortuna Sittard0Utrecht0Eredivisie
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31/10/2023Utrecht3RKC Waalwijk2KNVB Beker
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05/11/2023Utrecht1Twente1Eredivisie
Excelsior Team News
Redouan El Yaakoubi picked up an injury in training ahead of last weekend’s encounter with Alkmaar, and the 27-year-old is still a doubt for Sunday.
Midfielder Lennard Hartjes is expected to be sidelined this weekend as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury, with the youngster last appearing during the seven-goal thriller against NEC in August.
Excelsior's Last 5 Matches
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07/10/2023Vitesse0Excelsior0Eredivisie
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22/10/2023Excelsior2PEC Zwolle4Eredivisie
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29/10/2023Volendam3Excelsior1Eredivisie
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01/11/2023Den Bosch1Excelsior2(E)KNVB Beker
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04/11/2023Excelsior1AZ1Eredivisie
Utrecht vs. Excelsior: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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