Excelsior vs Sittard prediction: NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie betting tips on match 2023-05-20 12:30.
This will be the fortnight of truth for Excelsior Rotterdam, who head into this round just one point ahead of 16th placed FC Emmen and with a comparatively poorer goal difference. They could benefit greatly from stepping out onto the Stadion Woudestein this week, where no fewer than seven of their eight victories booked in this competition have taken place. If they can do it again on this Sunday afternoon, Excelsior will equal their club record of eight wins in a single top flight season.
There has been a lot of recent speculation at the club surrounding the future of Marouan Azarkan, with the Feyenoord mercenary – on loan to Excelsior for this season – reportedly having a lot of suitors calling his agent including Utrecht. However, the 21-year-old winger has been unable to prevent his side from failing to score at all in five of their last six matches.
Fortuna Sittard are now sure of their survival and have little more to play for over the next fortnight. They’ll look back on their inconsistent season with a sense of frustration after not stringing together back-to-back wins since January, whilst suffering six 2+ goal defeats since then. So volatile was their form that they have not drawn a league outing in 12 rounds (W4, L8).
They did, however, win their last two meetings with Excelsior, one of which featured a double from current Excelsior player Lazaros Lamprou in Sittard colours. Those two wins were home fixtures for the Limburgers, though, and repeating the dose away – where they have been the worst team in the competition (W1, D3, L12; -34) – is a different task. In fact, they even lost five of the last six away H2Hs!
Players to watch: Excelsior’s Stijn van Gassel has conceded the most goals (68) of all Eredivisie goalkeepers this season. For the visitors, Paul Gladon has stepped up in the absence of Burak Yılmaz with goals in his last two appearances.
Hot stat: Excelsior has lost just one home game against Fortuna Sittard (W16, D5) in club history.