Preview: SBV Excelsior vs. Feyenoord - prediction, team news, lineups

Eredivisie returnees SBV Excelsior host Feyenoord in their first home match at Stadion Woudestein since returning to the top flight, as both teams clash on Saturday.

Having had their Champions League aspirations ended by Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce during the week, Robin van Persie’s team, who claimed maximum points on the opening weekend, seek consecutive victories in this round’s provincial derby against the Kralingers Roodzwarten.

Match preview

Despite only being away from the top division for one year, Excelsior were reminded of how challenging life is in the big leagues, suffering a 5-0 defeat at NEC.

The match was especially tough for substitute goalkeeper Tijmen Holla, who conceded four times after replacing the injured Stijn van Gassel after 30 minutes.

Aiming to respond to that heavy defeat in their first match in Rotterdam this season, Ruben den Uil’s troops will hope to replicate their commendable second-tier form in the top flight.

The Red-Blacks won 14 of their 19 home fixtures in the Eerste Divisie last term, accumulating 45 points — a joint-high with promoted Volendam — and their 14 goals conceded were the fewest in the second tier in the 2024-25 season.

After claiming five consecutive victories at home to close out last season, the Wonder Oud papier-club are aiming for their sixth win in a row at Stadion Woudestein in competitive games.

However, fans will recall their underwhelming return in the 2023-24 season, which saw them relegated — Excelsior won four, drew seven and lost six of their 17 matches as hosts — while a five-match losing streak against their provincial rivals also does little to boost optimism for the promoted Rotterdam side.

Nevertheless, the league returnees hope to catch Van Persie’s team off guard after Feyenoord’s Champions League heartbreak in Fenerbahce on Tuesday.

The Rotterdam giants carried a 2-1 lead into Turkey, only to be powerless to resist as Mourinho's team mounted a comeback to win 5-2 that night and 6-4 on aggregate.

Since they were in the Champions Path of qualifying, the Stadium Club now progress into the league phase of the Europa League, offering some consolation for the Rotterdam outfit who reached the last 16 of last season's Champions League.

Keen to respond to their European setback, Van Persie's team, one of seven clubs in the Eredivisie to win all their matches in the opening round, now aim to secure back-to-back victories.

That ambition will be anticipated by many travelling supporters, who have seen their team register five consecutive wins in this fixture since losing 2-1 in February 2019.

Since that surprising defeat, Feyenoord have outscored their provincial rivals 15-3, highlighting their dominance, and they aim to claim a sixth victory on Saturday following their opening weekend win over NAC Breda.

SBV Excelsior Eredivisie form:

Feyenoord Eredivisie form:

Feyenoord form (all competitions):

Team News

Van Gassel, substituted after 30 minutes in the first game, is unlikely to return, joining Lennard Hartjes on the injury list.

After challenging debuts at both ends of the pitch, centre-back Stan Henderikx and wide forward Gyan de Regt hope to improve their performances on Saturday.

Although they seemingly came through unscathed against NAC Breda and Fenerbahce, Van Persie has a number of players unavailable: Thomas Beelen, Julian Carranza, Antef Tsoungui, Chris Kevin Nadje, Gernot Trauner, Jakub Moder, Jeyland Mitchell and Shiloh 't Zand are all likely to miss out due to injuries.

The Stadium Club's top scorer from last season, Igor Paixao, is no longer at the club, meaning the 2024-25 third-placed team must find attacking alternatives to compensate for the departure of the forward who scored 16 goals in the top flight.

That responsibility falls to Anis Hadj Moussa and Ayase Ueda, both of whom scored a combined 15 Eredivisie goals last season; Ueda scored in the recent victory over NAC, and he is eager to add to his league tally on Saturday.

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Holla; Bronkhorst, Widell, Henderikx, Zagre; Carlen, Middendorp; Fernandes, Naujoks, De Regt; Van Duinen

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:

Wellenreuther; Read, Ahmedhodzic, Watanabe, Lotomba; Hwang, Timber; Moussa, Steijn, Diarra; Ueda

We say: SBV Excelsior 1-3 Feyenoord

Despite Feyenoord’s midweek exertions in the Champions League and Van Persie’s stretched squad, it is unlikely to see anything other than an away victory.

Excelsior’s disappointing opening day hammering at NEC already indicates that the promoted Kralingers Roodzwarten might struggle in the top flight, giving Van Persie’s team a clear advantage ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

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