**Excelsior's draw-happy form meets a Groningen side desperate to string wins together.** This is the kind of fixture where momentum matters — and Rotterdam's crew have steadied the ship way better than their visitors 🏟️

Excelsior's last three have been proper scrappy (2-2, 1-2, 2-2), leaning hard on defensive resilience and set-piece chaos. Groningen just beat PEC 3-0 at home but can't seem to build on it — they've stuttered with draws and losses everywhere else. That H2H tilts firmly toward Groningen historically, but recent form says the hosts have the edge.

Key storylines:

- **Excelsior's draw magnet**: Two of their last three ended level; they'll want a cleaner result against a vulnerable Groningen
- **Groningen's missing pieces**: E. V. D. Laan, N. Brandis, and W. Prins out (Unknown status) leave the squad thin on talent
- **Home advantage at Woudestein**: Excelsior won't want to drop points at their fortress against a side showing cracks

Expected lineups:

- **Excelsior**: S. van Gassel, S. Janssen, J. Plug, R. Meissen, E. d. S. Moreira, C. Widell, I. Yegoian, L. Hartjes, D. Garden
- **FC Groningen**: E. Vaessen, J. Schreuders, T. Blokzijl, M. Csinger, M. Rente, T. d. Jonge, P. Clement, T. Land, D. v. d. Werff

Prediction:

**Excelsior 2-1 FC Groningen** — slight lean to the hosts riding home form and Groningen's patchy consistency.