Excelsior vs Waalwijk prediction: NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie betting tips on match 2023-02-04 20:00.
Excelsior Rotterdam entered this round four points above the relegation zone, but with an equal-league worst goal difference of -23 that may come to haunt them in May if they cannot turn things around. Alongside fellow relegation battlers Volendam, they stand as one of just two clubs to have conceded more than twice as many goals as they have scored, resulting in more 3+ goal defeats (six) than any other club this league season.
They played Ajax back into form last weekend with a 4-1 home loss, their sixth loss from their last eight Eredivisie matches. A porous defence has kept goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel, who as of the end of last round had racked up at least 14 more saves than any other Eredivisie custodian, awfully busy. Their only three league wins since the middle of September have all come at home, so the Stadion Woudestein appears the most likely place for them to bid for their survival.
After they suffered their own poor period of one win from eight Eredivisie matches (D3, L4), RKC Waalwijk launched themselves back into the top half of the standings with back-to-back two-goal winning margins (3-1 against Go Ahead Eagles and 2-0 over FC Emmen), which is particularly ominous given their upcoming opponents’ tendency to suffer enormous losses. Mats Seuntjens has turned out to be an excellent winter acquisition for the team from Brabant, having been involved in five goals in his first five games for RKC (G2, A3).
As the visitors search for their first win in six Eredivisie away trips (D2, L3), they may have to be particularly attentive around their own 18-yard box, as the worst offenders in the competition when it comes to giving away penalties. They continue to draw the attention and ire of referees around the country, with only Fortuna Sittard collecting more yellow cards across the season going into this round.
Players to watch: Excelsior central defender Redouan el Yaakoubi has popped up to register his name on the scoresheet in two of his last five Eredivisie games. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Mats Seuntjens scored a goal and two assists against Go Ahead Eagles last weekend.
Hot stat: Waalwijk have one of the Eredivisie’s best season records when conceding the opening goal (W4, D1, L4), whilst Excelsior laments one of its worst (W1, D1, L10).