Excelsior — Twente : Match Preview and Prediction for August 30,2025

Excelsior’s Rocky Start to the Season

Excelsior, after just one year, triumphantly returned from the First Division to the Eredivisie, securing an impressive second place right behind Volendam. However, if their performance continues along the dismal trajectory witnessed at the start of this new season under Ruben Den Uil, a swift return to the lower division could become inevitable. This concerning trend might also lead to the relatively inexperienced coach being relieved of his duties from the red-blacks’ dugout.

Early Season Struggles and Defensive Woes

Indeed, Excelsior commenced their campaign with three consecutive and heavy defeats: a crushing 0-5 loss to NEC in Nijmegen, a 1-2 derby defeat against Feyenoord, and a recent 1-4 thrashing in Utrecht. This is, to put it mildly, an utterly disastrous start, underscored by their frankly abysmal defense. Consequently, they currently languish at the very bottom of the table, sharing this unenviable position with Heracles. The Rotterdam side is conceding nearly 4 goals per game on average, a statistic that is horrifyingly high even by Eredivisie standards. For their upcoming match against Twente, key players Hartjes, Schouten, and Thielemans are confirmed absentees.

Twente’s Quest for Consistency

Twente also had a start to the season that initially fell below expectations. However, after two previous losses — a narrow 0-1 defeat to Zwolle on opening day and a 0-2 home loss to PSV — Joseph Oosting’s resilient charges finally managed to break their scoring drought and secure a vital victory. Their recent match in Heerenveen was a challenging encounter, but the Enschede squad demonstrated admirable character, earning a well-deserved 2-1 win (their opponent scored a mere consolation goal in injury time).

Aiming for European Ambitions and Player Returns

For last season’s Europa League playoff participant, this recent victory could undoubtedly serve as a crucial positive turning point in their season, propelling them to higher standings and reigniting their contention for European qualification spots. Their robust squad depth unequivocally supports this ambition, and we fully anticipate a proactive, attacking display from this more experienced collective. Mathias Kjølø will be unavailable for the upcoming clash against the Rotterdam team, while Sam Lammers, the pivotal attacking star for the Reds, makes his welcome return to the lineup.