NEC Nijmegen v Excelsior: early-season momentum as possession play meets aerial threat | OneFootball

The Eredivisie fixture between NEC Nijmegen and Excelsior at the Goffertstadion on Saturday, 22 August 2026, has been postponed, but when played the game will pit two sides level on three points after two matches and looking to build early momentum.

NEC Nijmegen have dominated this matchup recently, winning the last three Eredivisie meetings without conceding, including a 5-0 home victory in 2025 and away wins in 2024 and April 2026.

Both arrive with mixed starts. NEC opened with a 1-2 home loss to Telstar before responding with a 4-1 win at Willem II. Excelsior thumped Cambuur 4-0 away on the opening day, then fell 2-1 at home to PSV.

Team news could bite. NEC list several absentees, including Perr Schuurs, Koki Ogawa and Philippe Sandler. Excelsior are without Noah Naujoks and David Garden. Naujoks leads their league scoring with two goals per the latest rankings.

On the numbers, the hosts tend to control games, averaging 69% possession with 86.72% pass accuracy and a high volume of open-play crosses. That could feed Kaj Sierhuis, joint-top in the league charts with two goals, while Tjaronn Chery and Bryan Linssen have also contributed. Excelsior look efficient and direct, with 47% possession, 64.71% shooting accuracy and three headed goals, plus sharper crossing accuracy at 34.78%. Their aerial threat may test NEC's back line.

In the table, both sit mid-pack on three points. A win, when this game is staged, could push either towards the European play-off places, while defeat may leave them anchored in the congested middle.