Two teams wey dey search for maximum points to boost their different ambitions go meet for Stadion Woudestein on Sunday, as SBV Excelsior dey entertain FC Utrecht.
With FC Volendam no dey play until later, a positive result go see the hosts temporarily move out of the drop zone, while a victory for Utrecht go take the visitors within two points of sixth place with a game for hand.
After dem draw curtain on 2025 just three points away from European place, e no fit unfathomable say Excelsior go dey involve for relegation fight four games to the end of season, but their terrible form for 2026 don make that reality.
Ruben den Uil side don manage just one win from 14 attempts this year and dem be 10 minutes away from seventh defeat for eight last time out, only for Szymon Wlodarczyk to strike late and salvage 2-2 draw with PEC Zwolle.
Inside Eredivisie bottom three on goal difference alone, De Roodzwarten still dey control their top-flight destiny ahead of their penultimate home match of the season, before a crucial relegation six-pointer against Volendam for their home finale.
Given their predicament, Excelsior go dey wary of 12-match winless run against Utrecht for all competitions since October 2015, although dem no lose for three of the last four home meetings.
With time dey run out, Sunday hosts go need every ounce of support from their fans, and grabbing the opening goal fit help settle nerves. However, dem don concede first for six of their last seven matches.
For a match wey confirm PSV Eindhoven as 2025-26 Eredivisie champions, Utrecht see a hard-fought point snatched away at death by 94th-minute winner, wey bring a dramatic end to seven-goal thriller and halt their seven-game unbeaten run.
Ron Jans men no waste time to return to winning ways, delivering a comprehensive 4-1 demolition of relegation-threatened Telstar for their third consecutive home victory since March 1.
Now facing back-to-back matches against relegation battlers, seventh-placed De Domstedelingen aim to ramp up their European push, sitting just two points behind Sparta Rotterdam for 10th and within reach of AZ Alkmaar just above them.
Utrecht defeat to PSV earlier this month mark their first away loss for six matches. Having no suffer back-to-back league defeats on road since October, this weekend visitors go dey confident to bounce back on their travels.
While Excelsior don dey plagued by their tendency to concede first, Utrecht don develop knack for striking early—scoring the opener for six of their last seven matches ahead of the trip to Rotterdam.
Miliano Jonathans and Hamdi Akujobi both dey sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries and no expect to feature again for Excelsior this season. Stan Henderikx and Mathijs Tielemans also set to miss out on Sunday, but Jerroldino Bergraaf fit return, after e be fit enough for place on bench last time out.
Victor Jensen no don feature since January 18 due to knee injury, while Miguel Rodriguez also remain sidelined. Seventeen-year-old Jaygo van Ommeren still dey nurse back problem, and Emirhan Demircan be recent addition to injury list with hamstring issue.
After scoring off bench for back-to-back matches, Jesper Karlsson go dey push for start and fit be rewarded here.
Utrecht be favourites to claim all three points, but Excelsior know time dey run out to keep their head above water. As result, we dey back a stalemate, with both sides settling for a point at full time.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
