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Matchday 9 · · Abe Lenstra Stadion

sc Heerenveen vs Excelsior: lineups

Last updated:

sc Heerenveen 10 · 9 points
Excelsior 9 · 11 points

Predicted lineups sc Heerenveen vs Excelsior

sc Heerenveen 4-2-3-1
22 Klaverboer
19 Zagaritis
3 Willemsen
4 Kersten
45 Braude
36 Courtens
16 Linday
7 Rivera
14 Smans
20 Trenskow
9 Vente

Predicted lineup for sc Heerenveen: Klaverboer, Zagaritis, Willemsen, Kersten, Braude, Courtens, Linday, Rivera, Smans, Trenskow, Vente

Excelsior 4-3-3
1 van Gassel
15 Janssen
14 Plug
4 Widell
2 Moreira
20 Hartjes
3 Meissen
8 Yegoian
30 Þorsteinsson
19 Garden
7 Sliti

Predicted lineup for Excelsior: van Gassel, Janssen, Plug, Widell, Moreira, Hartjes, Meissen, Yegoian, Þorsteinsson, Garden, Sliti

sc Heerenveen

Dirk Proper will miss out for Heerenveen with a hamstring injury, leaving Veldeman expected to pair Marcus Linday and Levi Smans in central midfield again. Smans has started three of the last five matches and been substituted in each of them, while Linday has made two starts in the same spell.

The back four and Bernt Klaverboer in goal are expected to remain unchanged from the defeat at PSV, with Oliver Braude, Sam Kersten, Maas Willemsen and Vasilios Zagaritis all ever-present over the last five matches. Nolhan Courtens should continue behind Dylan Vente, with Jacob Trenskow and Maxence Rivera providing the width. Veldeman has used a 4-2-3-1 in four of the last five matches, switching to a 4-4-2 once.

Excelsior

Noah Naujoks is doubtful for the trip to Heerenveen because of injury, although a return is possible around this fixture.

Elsewhere, Excelsior are expected to retain a settled side. Eric da Silva Moreira should continue at right-back after starting four of the last five matches, with Rick Meissen expected in central midfield alongside Irakli Yegoian and Lennard Hartjes. Yegoian has scored twice and supplied three assists over the same period. David Garden and Ágúst Orri Þorsteinsson have started all five matches and been withdrawn in each one, while Aymen Sliti should join them in attack. Simon Janssen is expected to keep his place at left-back ahead of Kasey Bos, who has made one start in the same spell.

Injuries and suspensions

sc Heerenveen

  • Dirk Proper Hamstring injury Unavailable

Excelsior

  • Noah Naujoks Injury Doubtful

Players to watch

The five players from each team with the most combined goals and assists this season.

All stats

sc Heerenveen

  1. Jacob Trenskow 3 goals 1 assists
  2. Maxence Rivera 2 goals 1 assists
  3. Nolhan Courtens 2 goals 0 assists
  4. Levi Smans 0 goals 3 assists
  5. Luca Oyen 1 goals 1 assists

Excelsior

  1. Irakli Yegoian 3 goals 5 assists
  2. Aymen Sliti 3 goals 1 assists
  3. David Garden 3 goals 0 assists
  4. Noah Naujoks 2 goals 0 assists
  5. Simon Janssen 0 goals 3 assists

Playing time and form

Who has played the most in recent weeks, and how have they performed?

sc Heerenveen

Player Starts Min. Form
Bernt Klaverboer 5/5 450 solid
Maas Willemsen 5/5 450 solid
Vasilios Zagaritis 5/5 450 solid
Oliver Braude 5/5 435 solid
Jacob Trenskow 5/5 425 strong
Nolhan Courtens 5/5 415 solid
Sam Kersten 5/5 413 solid
Dylan Vente 5/5 403 mixed

Excelsior

Player Starts Min. Form
Stijn van Gassel 5/5 450 solid
Casper Widell 5/5 450 solid
Jan Plug 5/5 450 solid
Irakli Yegoian 5/5 450 strong
Rick Meissen 5/5 450 mixed
Lennard Hartjes 5/5 445 mixed
David Garden 5/5 369 solid
Ágúst Orri Þorsteinsson 5/5 354 mixed

Pre-match prediction

Pre-match goals forecast
1.72 1.36
  • Predicted goals2.9
  • Both teams to score38%
  • Over 2.5 goals63%
  • Corners9.8

Team comparison

HEE home Per match EXC away
1.00 Points 2.00
0.75 Goals for 2.75
1.25 Goals against 1.00
1.72 xG for 1.36
1.77 xG against 1.78
5.3 Corners 4.5
WLLD Home and away form WWDD

sc Heerenveen vs Excelsior: head-to-head record

19 previous meetings
11 sc Heerenveen 3 draws 5 Excelsior
  • Goals per match2.95
  • Both teams scored53%
  • Over 2.5 goals68%
  • Mar 2026 Excelsior 1 - 2 sc Heerenveen
  • Oct 2025 sc Heerenveen 2 - 1 Excelsior
  • Jan 2024 Excelsior 3 - 0 sc Heerenveen
  • Sep 2023 sc Heerenveen 0 - 3 Excelsior
  • May 2023 sc Heerenveen 0 - 0 Excelsior
  • Nov 2022 Excelsior 0 - 1 sc Heerenveen
  • Mar 2019 sc Heerenveen 1 - 0 Excelsior
  • Sep 2018 Excelsior 3 - 3 sc Heerenveen
  • Feb 2018 sc Heerenveen 0 - 1 Excelsior
  • Sep 2017 Excelsior 1 - 2 sc Heerenveen

Frequently asked questions

When will the lineup for sc Heerenveen vs Excelsior be announced?

Predicted lineups will appear on this page a few days before the match. Confirmed teams usually follow around an hour before kick-off, scheduled for .

Who is unavailable for sc Heerenveen against Excelsior?

sc Heerenveen are without Dirk Proper (hamstring injury).

Who is unavailable for Excelsior against sc Heerenveen?

Excelsior are without Noah Naujoks (injury).

What formation do sc Heerenveen play?

sc Heerenveen have used a 4-2-3-1 in 4 of their last 5 matches. In their last match, they played a 4-2-3-1.

What formation do Excelsior play?

Excelsior have used a 4-3-3 formation in their last 5 matches under den Uil.

How did the last meeting between sc Heerenveen and Excelsior finish?

On 7 March 2026, Excelsior vs sc Heerenveen finished 1-2.

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