Groningen – Excelsior

Groningen host Excelsior in what promises to be a tightly contested clash in the middle of the table. The home side sit ninth with eight points from six games, having scored 12 and conceded 13, while the visitors sit six‑place higher on ten points, boasting a superior goal difference of +6 after netting 13 and allowing just seven. Both teams have recorded two draws, but Excelsior’s three wins give them a slight edge in recent form. A win for Groningen could lift them into the top‑seven race, whereas a slip for Excelsior would allow rivals to close the gap on the European spots. The fixture will likely be decided by which side can tighten up defensively and convert the few chances they create.