Heerenveen vs Excelsior: Recent Meetings Show a Tight Rivalry

Excelsior have found the net in every one of their eight Eredivisie matches this season, yet Heerenveen have been the side getting the better of recent meetings between these two clubs.

Narrow margins in recent meetings

Heerenveen have won the last two encounters, both 2-1: a home win in October 2025 and another 2-1 victory at Excelsior in March. Before that, Excelsior held the upper hand, beating Heerenveen 3-0 at home in January 2024 and 3-0 away in September 2023. The only goalless meeting in the recent run came in May 2023. Across five games, nothing has been settled by a comfortable margin for long, and Friday’s match fits that pattern.

Form and standing

Excelsior sit ninth with 11 points, two places and two points above Heerenveen, who are tenth on 9 with a goal difference of zero. Excelsior’s goal difference is +2, and they have been stronger on the road, unbeaten in four away matches with two wins and two draws.

Heerenveen have been less secure at home this season, winning once, drawing once and losing twice in four matches there. Their last five league results read lose, win, draw, lose, draw, and they have scored and conceded 11 goals in eight games. Excelsior have scored 16 and conceded 14, with their attack doing most of the work.

Team news

Heerenveen will be without D. Proper, who is out with a hamstring injury. Excelsior face a fitness check on N. Naujoks, who is doubtful with an injury.

Our prediction

Heerenveen 1-1 Excelsior. Both sides have been scoring regularly, and neither has managed a clean sheet often enough to be confident of keeping one here. Excelsior’s away record makes them difficult to beat, while Heerenveen’s home form suggests they can hold their own, so a share of the points looks the most likely outcome.