Match Preview: PSV vs. Excelsior

The remnants of fireworks have been blanketed by a thick layer of snow on the streets, signaling the arrival of the new year. As the Eredivisie resumes, the league leaders, PSV, are set to clash with the thirteenth-placed Excelsior. Will 2026 commence with another victory? Below, we provide insights for betting on the match between PSV and Excelsior.

There was considerable confidence last season that PSV would clinch the league title before the winter break. However, the Eindhoven team made things unnecessarily tense in the second half of the season. Coach Peter Bosz will be hoping for a different outcome this time. To maintain their momentum from before the break, PSV must replicate their strong performance against Excelsior. Following a 2-2 draw with Ajax, fans have little to complain about, as the team has since secured victories in all eleven league matches.

PSV vs. Excelsior: Offensive Struggles

PSV’s coach, Ruben den Uil, is likely seeking improvements in the attacking front. Excelsior has struggled significantly this season, with only sixteen goals to their name, making them the lowest-scoring team in the Eredivisie. Loan players like Yoon Do-young, Szymon Włodarczyk, and Stefan Mitrović have not provided the much-needed boost. Currently, the top scorer for Excelsior is midfielder Noah Naujoks, who has netted five goals, all in the last five rounds of 2025.

Player to Watch: Ricardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi has had a dynamic year, initially serving as a backup to Luuk de Jong, only to face competition from Alassane Pléa, who also encountered injuries. The 22-year-old American continues to fight for his position. Reports suggest that PSV turned down an offer exceeding 30 million euros for him. Pepi concluded 2025 in strong form, scoring once in matches against FC Volendam, sc Heerenveen, Atlético Madrid, Heracles Almelo, and FC Utrecht.

Head-to-Head Encounters

In October 2015, Excelsior left Eindhoven with a hard-earned point after a 1-1 draw. Following that, PSV embarked on a remarkable streak of thirteen consecutive victories over the Rotterdam side. Earlier this season, PSV faced a challenge at Stadion Woudestein but managed to secure a 2-1 win after initially trailing.

Prediction for PSV vs. Excelsior

PSV has learned from their earlier away game this season and the difficulties they faced last year after the winter break. Given the current dynamics between the two teams, it is expected that the Eindhoven squad should win this match comfortably. Betting on ‘PSV to win with a -2 handicap’ offers odds of 1.97 at Vbet.

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