- 1 NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior: a postponed game that could not have landed at a worse time for the hosts
- 2 NEC Nijmegen: dangerous away, shaky at home
- 3 Excelsior: young, sharp and scoring
- 4 Football Prediction NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No obligation from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior: a postponed game that could not have landed at a worse time for the hosts 
The Goffertstadion hosts NEC Nijmegen and Excelsior Rotterdam on Tuesday, September 8 in the third round of the Eredivisie. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. local time, the same as in France.
This fixture was originally due to be played on Saturday, August 22. It was pushed back after NEC booked their place against Olympiakos in the Champions League preliminary round.
The Dutch federation had already set a backup date. September 8 would apply if NEC lost their European playoff and dropped into the Europa League, which is exactly what happened.
The two clubs arrive on very different runs. NEC sit in mid-table after four rounds, while Excelsior are up in fourth with three wins on the board.
The shape of NEC’s start to the season is impossible to ignore. Both of their wins have come away from home, and the Goffertstadion has given them nothing back so far.
Recent history, though, leans heavily toward the hosts. NEC have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides.
One more stat points this way as well. Eight of the last nine games between these clubs have gone over 2.5 goals.
NEC Nijmegen: dangerous away, shaky at home 
Two wins from four league games is the record for Dick Schreuder’s men. Both came on the road, at Willem II (4-1) and PEC Zwolle (3-1).
At the Goffertstadion, the story has been very different. Telstar won 2-1 there on opening day, and Feyenoord left with a 3-1 victory on September 5.
The win at Willem II remains NEC’s best display of the campaign. Adam Tahaui scored on his first start, alongside Tjaronn Chery, Bryan Linssen and Kaj Sierhuis.
August left its mark in Europe. Bodoe/Glimt knocked NEC out 6-1 on aggregate in the Champions League playoff, with the Dutch side allowing nine shots on target across the two legs.
The return in Norway was over almost before it began. Keeper Gonzalo Crettaz saw red after three minutes, and the side never really recovered its shape.
That defeat sent the club into the Europa League league phase. A trip to Juventus now waits on September 17, nine days after this one.
There was at least one positive to take from the loss to Feyenoord. Darko Nejasmic, back from injury, levelled at 1-1 with a volley on his first appearance since returning to fitness.
The squad is still short on numbers, though. Sami Ouaissa, Ahmetcan Kaplan, Thomas Ouwejan and Yassin Moslih are all out, leaving Schreuder with fewer options in defence and midfield.
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Excelsior: young, sharp and scoring 
Three wins from four league matches and Excelsior have surprised plenty of people. Their only defeat came at home to PSV, 2-1.
The Rotterdam club started the season in style. The 4-0 win at Cambuur matched the biggest away victory in the club’s history.
The PSV game showed they can go toe-to-toe with the top sides too. Casper Widell had cancelled out Ruben van Bommel before Ricardo Pepi made the difference after the break.
Since then, Ruben den Uil’s side have rattled off two more wins. Sparta Rotterdam were beaten 2-1 at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion, then Willem II were swept aside 3-0 on September 5.
That Tilburg win summed up what this team is about. David Garden struck before the eighth minute, Rick Meissen doubled the lead before half-time for his first pro goal, and Irakli Yegoian wrapped it up in the 85th minute after a long clearance from Stijn van Gassel.
The 35-year-old keeper is the most experienced player in the group, too. He has started all four league matches so far.
Garden and Yegoian have scored in the last two outings and should again be central to the attack. Meissen’s first goal also gives Den Uil another genuine option in a very young squad.
One subplot to watch is on the away side. Alireza Jahanbakhsh, signed this summer and a former NEC player, returns to Nijmegen in an official match for the first time in Excelsior colours.
Predicted NEC Nijmegen line-up: Crettaz ; Pereira, Fonville, Storm ; Nejasmic, Tadic, Lebreton, Bischoff ; Chery ; Linssen, Sierhuis
Predicted Excelsior line-up: Van Gassel ; Janssen, Plug, Widell, Meissen ; Yegoian, Hartjes, Vianen ; Timas, Sliti, Groen
Football Prediction NEC Nijmegen vs Excelsior
Our prediction: over 2.5 goals in the match
This fixture’s recent record leaves little room for argument, with eight of the last nine meetings finishing above the 2.5-goal line. Both teams play on the front foot, and they have backed that up already this season.
NEC have conceded twice at home in two games at the Goffertstadion, against Telstar and Feyenoord, while scoring in both. Excelsior, meanwhile, have hit four at Cambuur and three at Willem II in their two away trips.
NEC’s defensive absentees and Excelsior’s attacking sharpness point the same way. Over 2.5 goals at the Goffertstadion looks the call.
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