Excelsior vs Nijmegen prediction: NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie betting tips on match 2024-05-05 18:00.
[p]The final match of Round 32 will be a rare Monday evening game and it’s a very important one for home side Excelsior Rotterdam. After all, the Kralingers are deeply involved in a relegation battle after losing nine of their last 12 matches (W1, D2). But they have recovered to avoid defeat in the last two games, and the 2-2 draw with Ajax must have surely given them some confidence that their season will end well.[/p]
[p]The coaching staff ought to remind them of the opening matchday of this year, where the reverse leg against NEC Nijmegen ended 4-3 in favour of Excelsior at the Goffert Stadium. That would ultimately be the first of only two away wins for the low-flyers. The last time Excelsior was visited by NEC, they also conceded three goals, but did not score at all in reply. Marinus Dijkhuizen will this week have to make do without Siebe Horemans who is out with a yellow card suspension this week.[/p]
[p]NEC can no longer miss out on the postseason European playoffs, but will be quietly hoping for a fifth place finish to be assured of UEFA competition after this exceptional season. Nijmegen will have to break the hearts of two Rotterdam clubs to do so, for next Sunday there’s another home match against Feyenoord, the club to which NEC recently lost the KNVB Cup final.[/p]
[p]Philippe Sandler has been widely praised in the media in recent weeks and is said to have interest from many top Dutch clubs, but he had to leave the field after 24 minutes last weekend and it’s not yet known at time of writing just how bad his injury is and whether he has recovered in time. The defender also happened to play his 24th game of the season against AZ which is a personal record for the injury-prone defender.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Excelsior’s Lazaros Lamprou was directly involved in a goal in three of his four meetings with NEC (G1, A2), whilst NEC player Calvin Verdonk provided two assists in his previous match when he visited Excelsior. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Excelsior’s last 12 games at home to NEC all saw at least two goals scored.[/p]