Preview: NEC vs SBV Excelsior - prediction, team news, lineups

NEC and SBV Excelsior will raise the curtain on their respective 2025-26 Eredivisie campaigns with a meeting at Goffertstadion on Saturday afternoon.

The home side will be looking to build on their eighth-place finish last time out, while the away side set out to establish themselves in the top flight on their return from the second division.

Match preview

Since regaining promotion to the Eredivisie back in 2022, NEC have gone from strength to strength and recorded a second straight top-eight finish in the 2024-25 season, which put them in contention for European football.

However, the Eniesee saw their continental ambitions quickly nipped in the bud as they fell to a 3-2 defeat to Twente in the semi-finals of the Eredivisie Europa League playoffs.

As earlier agreed back in March, Rogier Meijer left the club after six years in charge, and Dick Schreuder has since been appointed to take the reins, handing the 54-year-old a second stint at this level after previously managing PEC Zwolle between November 2021 and June 2023.

While it is still early days, Schreuder has made a good first impression during preseason, winning six of seven matches as he prepares for his first official assignment at the helm of affairs.

Games between Saturday's opponents have been evenly contested, as the last 14 meetings dating back to 2014 have yielded six wins apiece and two stalemates.

Unbeaten in seven of their eight competitive home matches this year, the hosts have been a tough nut to crack in front of their fans and will back themselves to make a winning start to proceedings this weekend.

Excelsior endured a disappointing 2024-25 season where they finished bottom but two in the Eredivisie standings and were consequently demoted to the Eerste Divisie after a 7-6 aggregate defeat to NAC Breda in the promotion/relegation playoffs.

This led to the departure of Marinus Dijkhuizen, with Ruben den Uil taking over for his first senior managerial role after a brief spell in charge of Jong Sparta Rotterdam.

Den Uil was tasked with taking Oud papier-club back to the top flight and wasted no time achieving that courtesy of a second-place finish in last season's Eerste Divisie.

Like NEC, Excelsior have also enjoyed a decent pre-season journey, losing just one of six matches, but their upcoming curtain-raiser will be the first true test of how ready they are for life back among the Dutch elite.

Saturday's visitors have been handed a tough beginning stretch with games against top-eight opponents from last season in five of the first six gameweeks, meaning they will need to be at it right from the first whistle.

NEC friendly form:

SBV Excelsior friendly form:

Team News

Defender Bram Nuytinck remains out of contention for NEC through a knee injury he picked up against RKC Waalwijk back in April.

New arrival Virgil Misidjan missed his side's final warm-up fixture against Blackburn Rovers but is expected to make his official debut here.

Excelsior's Lennard Hartjes endured an injury-hit campaign last time out due to a knee problem, and the 22-year-old is still a considerable way off returning to action.

Derensili Sanches Fernandes will be looking to deliver the goods for his side once again, having been directly involved in 18 goals for the visitors en route to promotion.

NEC possible starting lineup:

Crettaz; Verdonk, Sandler, Pereira; Sano, Proper; Linssen, Chery, Ouaissa, Onal; Shiogai

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Van Gassel; Cairo, Widell, Zagre, Henderikx; Zandbergen, Booth, Colyn; Bargraaf, Janssen, Martens