Groningen v Excelsior: mid-table push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Groningen host Excelsior in the Eredivisie at Euroborg on 2 May 2026, with the hosts eyeing a top-half push and the visitors looking to keep their distance from the relegation places.

Groningen hold the recent head-to-head edge, winning seven of the latest meetings to Excelsior's three, with one draw. The hosts sit ninth on 42 points, while the visitors are 14th with 31.

Dick Lukkien's side have taken two wins and two draws in their last five, including a 3-0 home victory over AZ before a 3-1 defeat at Feyenoord. Excelsior followed draws with PEC Zwolle and Heracles with a 5-0 win against Utrecht after losses to NEC Nijmegen and Feyenoord.

Groningen are without Hidde Jurjus, Oskar Zawada and Stije Resink. Excelsior list Mathijs Tielemans, Stan Henderikx and Miliano Jonathans as injured. In attack, Thom van Bergen has nine league goals this season, while Noah Naujoks also has nine for the visitors.

The hosts' numbers point to control and balance: 51% average possession, 79.93% pass accuracy and 10 clean sheets. They could look to supply creators like Younes Taha, who has seven league assists. Excelsior have conceded 51 goals but carry a threat of their own, with Gyan de Regt on six assists and a 60.0% penalty conversion rate that may matter in tight moments.

A home win would lift Groningen to 45 points and could nudge them towards the European play-off picture. Victory for Excelsior would take them to 34 points and may move them further clear of the relegation places.