SC Heerenveen vs Excelsior Rotterdam
Match details. Eredivisie, Regular Season - 9. Kick-off is Fri 16 Oct, 19:00 Lagos time. It is played at Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen. The referee is Robin Hensgens.
What's at stake. SC Heerenveen are 10th on 9 points after 8 games, 2 points behind Excelsior, level on points with NEC Nijmegen. A win would take them above Excelsior. Excelsior Rotterdam are 9th on 11 points after 8 games, level on points with GO Ahead Eagles, 2 points clear of Heerenveen. A win would take them above GO Ahead Eagles.
Team news. SC Heerenveen are without D. Proper (hamstring injury), D. Proper (hamstring injury). Excelsior Rotterdam are without N. Naujoks (injury), N. Naujoks (injury).
Form. SC Heerenveen have won two, drawn four and lost four of their last ten, 1.0 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L W D L D. Excelsior Rotterdam have won four, drawn three and lost three of their last ten, 1.5 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L D L D W.
The numbers. SC Heerenveen score 0.6 and concede one a game in their last five at home, with three clean sheets and three games without a goal. SC Heerenveen average 12.4 shots (5.3 on target), 5.8 corners and 1.0 cards a game, with 53% of the ball. Excelsior Rotterdam score 2.8 and concede 1.2 a game in their last five away, with two clean sheets. Excelsior Rotterdam average 8.9 shots (3.8 on target), 4.0 corners and 1.2 cards a game, with 42% of the ball.
Head to head. In the last eight meetings SC Heerenveen have won five, drawn one and lost two. Five of the eight went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in two. In the last four, SC Heerenveen won two and Excelsior Rotterdam won two. The last time they met, on 7 Mar 2026, it finished SC Heerenveen 2-1 Excelsior Rotterdam: SC Heerenveen had 10 shots to 21, 49% of the ball, two yellow cards.
Where it pulls both ways. It pulls both ways: their goals for and against make SC Heerenveen the likelier winners, but Excelsior Rotterdam are the stronger side on form and the table; the meetings favour SC Heerenveen.
The case against. Excelsior Rotterdam's record still gives them 43% to win.
The read. SC Heerenveen or the draw. An open game. Their goals for and against make SC Heerenveen the likelier winners; Excelsior Rotterdam are the stronger side on form and the table; the meetings favour SC Heerenveen. Their goals for and against point to an open game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 64%. Five of the last eight meetings went over 2.5.
The bets. No bet yet: nothing I'd back is priced yet. Leave: Under 4.5 Goals (no unders on an open read); Under 5.5 Goals (no unders on an open read). Predicted score: SC Heerenveen 2-1 Excelsior Rotterdam (10% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and an open game).