FC Groningen
- FC Groningen currently sit 9th in the Eredivisie table with 42 points from 31 games, while Excelsior Rotterdam are 14th with 31 points from the same number of matches.
- FC Groningen are the form favorites here with two wins, two draws and a defeat from their last five matches, while Excelsior have picked up one win, two draws and two defeats over the same period.
- Groningen came away with a 0-2 win in Rotterdam four months ago in the last meeting between these two Eredivisie sides, and there is little to split them in the table this term.
- Dick Lukkien’s men are a disciplined, youthful side who build up the ball well and have good balance in transition, having scored 1.53 goals per home game this term (W6, D4, L5 from 15).
Excelsior Rotterdam
- Ruben den Uil sets his Excelsior Rotterdam team up in a pragmatic manner, with the team compact at the back and ready to explode into counter-attacking play at the first opportunity.
- The visitors have won only three, drawn five and lost seven of their 15 away Eredivisie games this season, and have scored just 1.13 goals per game on average, while conceding 2.00 goals on the road.
- Noah Naujoks has been the most reliable goalscorer in the club’s ranks with nine in 28 Eredivisie appearances, but Derensili Sanches Fernandes has hit four of the club’s last nine goals and has found his rhythm of late.
Recent meetings
- FC Groningen have won three of the last four Eredivisie head-to-head matches, Excelsior Rotterdam have won once.
- Excelsior Rotterdam have failed to win any of their last three away matches (Drew 2, Lost 1).
Key Players
- Lukkien’s tactical discipline has ensured that the team keep their shape and force turnovers by pressing in specific areas this season, while Groningen have a reliable goalscorer in Thom van Bergen (nine goals in 31 Eredivisie games), who has scored three of his team’s last seven goals.
- Noah Naujoks has been the most reliable goalscorer in the club’s ranks with nine in 28 Eredivisie appearances.
Betting Insights
FC Groningen will most likely edge out their visitors in front of the home crowd, but the odds of 1.71 for a home victory look a little too short, so I will be taking Over 2.5 goals at 1.43 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.49 instead.
