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

NAC Breda host Excelsior in the Eredivisie on Friday, 6 February 2026, at Rat Verlegh Stadion, with the relegation-threatened hosts seeking vital points and the visitors looking to strengthen their mid-table footing.

The last meeting went the visitors' way, Excelsior winning 1-0 on 29 November 2025. Head-to-head aside, the stakes now split: NAC Breda are in the relegation places, while the visitors sit 13th and aiming to stay clear of the scrap below.

Form points to a tight contest. NAC Breda are on a run of five without a win but have drawn their past two, 2-2 against PSV and 2-2 versus FC Twente. Excelsior have steadied with four straight draws after a heavy defeat at PSV, including a 0-0 at FC Twente and 2-2 against Ajax.

Carl Hoefkens is without defender Boy Kemper and forward Moussa Soumano through injury. Excelsior have no listed absences.

The numbers hint at where the game could tilt. NAC Breda average 1.1 goals for and 1.6 against with only two clean sheets, and they have not scored from set pieces this league season. Service from creators Lewis Holtby and Charles-Andreas Brym, both on four assists according to the season rankings, may be key. Excelsior have scored one per game and conceded 1.8, but show sharper shooting accuracy at 45.81% and could lean on six-goal midfielder Noah Naujoks as a threat.

A home win would lift NAC Breda to 19 points and could move them closer to safety, potentially out of the relegation places depending on other results. Excelsior would rise to 26 points with victory and could edge towards the top half while consolidating mid-table security.