Excelsior Aims to Halt Slide Against Inconsistent PEC Zwolle

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (Interstat) — A struggling Excelsior side will look to snap a three-match winless run when it hosts an erratic PEC Zwolle in an Eredivisie fixture on Saturday.

The match at Van Donge & De Roo Stadium pits two mid-table clubs seeking consistency as the Dutch league season approaches its winter break.

Excelsior (6-5-4) has stumbled after a strong start, failing to score in its last two league outings. Most recently, the Rotterdam club fell 2-0 at home to FC Groningen on Dec. 5. Its form has been uneven, mixing a stunning 2-1 away victory over Ajax on Nov. 22 with subsequent losses.

PEC Zwolle (5-7-3) arrives with momentum from a 1-0 home victory over Fortuna Sittard last Saturday. However, the Blauwvingers’ season has been a rollercoaster, defined by wild scorelines. Their last eight matches include an 8-2 thrashing at Heracles, a 6-1 loss at Feyenoord and a 2-2 draw with powerhouse AZ Alkmaar, highlighting a porous defense capable of occasional resilience.

Historically, this fixture has been closely contested. The statistical service Interstat projects a 1-1 draw for Saturday’s encounter, a result that would reflect both teams’ recent patterns.

For Excelsior, the focus will be on rediscovering its attacking threat, which produced wins earlier this season. PEC Zwolle will aim to build on its clean sheet last week and find stability at the back.

The match is the final league game of 2025 for both clubs before the winter hiatus. Excelsior will resume play Jan. 10 with a daunting trip to league leader PSV Eindhoven. PEC Zwolle begins its new year at home against FC Twente on the same date.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).