Utrecht — Excelsior : Match Preview and Prediction for August 24,2025

Utrecht’s Previous Season: A Surprise Performance

Last season, Utrecht emerged as the most pleasant surprise in Dutch football. This modest squad made a significant leap forward and had an outstanding first half of the season, even contending for the championship title for a period. However, their results did dip in the spring. The small team lacked the stamina to maintain their performance from start to finish. Ultimately, they missed out on medals but secured a spot in the Europa League qualifiers.

Transfer Market Strategy and Squad Depth

The team has been active in the transfer market, conducting some effective business. It’s debatable whether the squad has become qualitatively stronger. Rather, the primary focus of their recruitment efforts appears to have been on expanding the player roster and enhancing rotation options. Most positions now boast several viable choices with minimal drop-off in quality. This depth means that their participation in European qualifiers is unlikely to significantly impact the team’s overall form.

Impressive European and Domestic Start

Incidentally, the team has already played five matches in Europe. They first dispatched Moldovan side Sheriff with a convincing 3-1 away win and a dominant 4-1 victory at home. This was followed by respectable performances against Swiss club Servette, securing a 3-1 away win and a comfortable 2-1 triumph on home turf. Earlier this week, Utrecht also defeated Zrinjski 2-0 away, virtually guaranteeing their place in the Europa League group stage. Domestically, the team had an excellent start to the league campaign. They secured a resounding 4-0 home win against Heracles (a team currently propping up the table alongside Excelsior). This was followed by a 1-2 defeat in Rotterdam against Sparta, though that loss was primarily due to poor finishing, a rare occurrence for them this season.

Defensive Vulnerabilities vs. Attacking Prowess

It’s evident that the team faces some defensive challenges. They concede goals regularly, yet on the flip side, they have only allowed opponents to score two goals against them once this season. With seven official matches played in the new season, this provides a decent sample size for assessing their playing trends. Conversely, the club’s attack is in excellent order, with only one match seeing them score just a single goal. Their offensive play is superb, driven by high-quality wide attacks. Furthermore, this seemingly modest team isn’t just effective on the counter-attack; they also demonstrate strong positional attacking play.

Key Players and Attacking Strengths

The team also boasts several standout individuals. Attacking playmaker Victor Jensen has been particularly impressive at the start of the season. The 25-year-old effectively orchestrates attacks and finishes intelligently. He’s a versatile player who creates numerous chances for himself and his teammates, with 5 goals in 5 qualifying matches. Dani de Wit, another attacking playmaker, is also performing well, though his participation in the upcoming match is uncertain. The full-backs have also made a strong impression and are arguably the team’s main weapon. Souffian El Karouani has already caught the eye of stronger European clubs, while on the right flank, experienced Belgian Horemans strives to match his counterpart’s level.

Excelsior’s Return to the Top Flight and Early Struggles

Excelsior earned promotion back to the elite division last season. However, comparing their form from the previous season to the current one is challenging, as the level of opposition is vastly different. The team’s role has shifted from being a favorite to a clear underdog, a reality underscored by their results in the opening rounds. They have already suffered two defeats with a combined goal difference of 1-7. While a loss to Feyenoord is expected, the crushing 0-5 away defeat to a modest NEC side was a truly unpleasant surprise.

Coaching Change and Defensive Disarray

The team changed coaches during the off-season, and it’s apparent that the modest squad has not yet fully adapted to the new manager. Their defense looks utterly disorganized, as evidenced by the seven goals conceded. A clear lack of discipline and cohesion is particularly noticeable. Even against Feyenoord, despite only conceding two goals, the team allowed numerous scoring opportunities and, surprisingly, seemed to relax completely after taking a 1-0 lead.

Lack of Quality Reinforcements and Pressure Issues

The team’s reinforcements in the transfer market appear very mediocre. In fact, following their promotion, the squad has not genuinely improved in terms of quality over the summer. It’s unclear how the team intends to compete for a place in the top flight this season. It’s also evident that the club struggles under sustained pressure on their goal. As an underdog, they will frequently find themselves in such situations, including in today’s match.

Away Form Concerns

Incidentally, the team’s away form was a concern even in the second-tier division. Last season, despite finishing second overall, they only managed the sixth-best record in away games, winning less than half of their matches (8 wins in 19 games with 5 defeats).

Inexperienced Squad and Defensive Frailties

Most of the team’s players are simply not prepared to perform at a serious level. For instance, there’s a distinct lack of leadership in central defense. The majority of the players are young, with only one or two seasons of experience at this challenging level. Only Kik Pierie stands out with his hundred Eredivisie matches at the age of 25. Therefore, the team’s poor defensive form should come as no surprise. Here, each player is learning game by game, gaining experience by making their own mistakes rather than benefiting from the wisdom of experienced teammates.

Attacking Imbalance and Lack of Veteran Guidance

The situation in attack is similar. There are too many disparate young players who are unaccustomed to making a decisive impact or delivering results. The club heavily relies on youth, opting against the services of several experienced mentor-players, who are undoubtedly missing from the squad.