- Home form: Cambuur have 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats in their last 5 home games.
- Excelsior form: Excelsior have 4 wins and 1 draw in their last 5 games, including a 4-game winning streak.
- Recent results: Cambuur have lost their last 2 matches, Excelsior have won the last 4.
Two teams moving in opposite directions
Excelsior Rotterdam enter the Kooi Stadium as the slight favorites at 2.54 to the 2.48 of hosts Cambuur Leeuwarden on Friday, while the draw is valued at 3.65. The head-to-head record between these Eredivisie 2026-2027 opponents is level at 1 win apiece, but Cambuur have a small psychological edge heading into this game.
The recent form of the two teams has both sides moving in different directions, with Cambuur in the middle of a 2-game losing streak and Excelsior looking to extend their current 4-game winning run into a fifth consecutive victory here. Across all current competitions, Cambuur have been fairly average to poor, with 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats in their last 10, while Excelsior have been exceptional, with 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat in the same timeframe.
Style contrast should make a midfield matchup
Tactical approaches
This fixture is a real clash of styles, with Cambuur Leeuwarden looking to play a possession-based style of soccer where they build up the game from the back and play through the pressure. Excelsior, on the other hand, prefer to press hard, win the ball back in dangerous positions and hurt teams on the break with pace and directness.
Under the stewardship of Johan Plat, Cambuur's style will likely be a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, where possession football is the primary objective and positional rotation is key. Excelsior, under Ruben den Uil, have been just as adaptable, playing either 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-4-3, staying compact in the right areas and attacking at pace when they have the ball.
Match implications
This contrast in styles should produce a lively midfield game, with the hosts looking to break through the Excelsior press while the visitors look to break free on the turnovers. A 1-3 type of score line or an Excelsior win with both teams to score will fit the odds and recent trends well.
Excelsior have a great road record
However, Excelsior have been excellent away across all comps in the current campaign, so we are going with the road team for the victory. The odds for over 2.5 goals at 1.62 and both teams to score – Yes at 1.5 look good, but Excelsior to win is more likely than the home upset, so we will go with both.
This fixture has a history of opening up and we feel that could be the case once again, so we are taking Excelsior to get the win.
- Across all games, Cambuur have scored an average of 1.20 goals and conceded 1.20 at home.
- Excelsior have scored 17 goals in 6 away games across all competition which is why they will be the likelier winners here.
- The head-to-head is level after 2 games in Friendly Club Matches in 2026, with Excelsior Rotterdam winning the latest meeting 3-2 at home.
