Excelsior v Heerenveen: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Excelsior host Heerenveen in the Eredivisie at Stadion Woudestein on Saturday, 7 March 2026, with the hosts trying to pull clear of the relegation picture and the visitors eyeing the top-eight play-off spots.

Heerenveen won the October meeting 2-1 and arrive ninth, while Excelsior sit 15th. The hosts are four points above the relegation play-off place, so home points would be timely.

Form leans the visitors' way. Excelsior have one win in their last five league games, losing the last two, including 1-0 at home to Go Ahead Eagles. Heerenveen have three wins in five, bouncing back from defeats at FC Twente and PSV with a 2-1 victory over Sparta Rotterdam.

Team news could shape selections. Excelsior are without Emil Hansson (injured), Arthur Zagre (suspended) and goalkeeper Calvin Raatsie (injured). Heerenveen list Sam Kersten (injured), Marcus Linday (suspended) and Levi Smans (injured) as unavailable.

The match-up points to goals. Heerenveen have scored 42 league goals at 1.7 per game but kept just two clean sheets, while conceding 43. Jacob Trenskow leads their line with nine league goals, supported by Dylan Vente on six. Excelsior average one goal per game and have yet to score from a set piece this league season, so creativity from open play and the threat of Noah Naujoks, who has seven, could be key.

A home win would lift Excelsior to 29 points and could open a bigger cushion on the relegation play-off spot. Victory for Heerenveen would take them to 37 points and could move them closer to, or into, the qualification play-off places.