Excelsior are in trouble. Their form over the previous five games is the worse in the Eredivisie, and after their defeat to Vitesse two weekends ago the gap to the relegation zone has shrunk to just five points. With Vitesse facing RKC Waalwijk this weekend, either one of those teams will likely close the gap. Excelsior travel to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday and will have to hope they can turn things around quickly to avoid another defeat.
Furthermore, the defence has been leaky in the past few weeks. Vitesse have only scored 19 goals in 24 games, but two of these came against Excelsior two weekends ago. FC Twente put three past them, Sparta Rotterdam grabbed four and Fortuna Sittard helped themselves to five last time out. In 24 games they have conceded 52 goals, putting them as the third worst defence in the league.
Yet out of all the sides down at the bottom, they have the best attack. They have scored 38 goals, with Tottenham loanee Troy Parrott leading the side with seven goals. Winger Couhaib Driouech has also been in good form, with four goals and four assists this season.
After AZ, Excelsior host RKC Waalwijk on the 16th of March. Given that it is unlikely that Excelsior, in the form they are in, will beat AZ this weekend, the game at home becomes all important. The sides drew 1-1 Van Donge & De Roo Stadion back in November, a result that Excelsior would certainly take this weekend.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
