Excelsior Maassluis vs Blauw Geel - Derde Divisie

There is a notable edge to this Derde Divisie fixture. When Excelsior Maassluis meet Blauw Geel at the home ground on September 26, 2026, both will sense an opportunity to land a telling blow. The left-back was taken off in the final minutes against Everton with cramp, and was not risked for the Champions League clash vs Sabah on Thursday.

The standings paint a clear picture: Excelsior Maassluis in 7th, Blauw Geel in 12th, and both keen to climb. The hosts have done enough without setting the world alight, W over their last five and a 40% win rate to their name. Blauw Geel are in the midst of a slump, WDLDL over their last five and a paltry win rate of 20% summing up their struggles. The contrast in attacking output — 1.4 versus 1.4 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. If you're Arsenal and wanting to win the Premier League, and you take six points off those teams, then you're near-on winning the Premier League.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Excelsior Maassluis will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Blauw Geel must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Tuesday's print edition of ABC, as relayed by Sport Witness, have claimed that Betis turned down a €50m approach from a wealthy non-Premier League club for Antony.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. Recruitment director Christopher Vivell is among those who have put the Roma midfielder forward as a potential option, while director of football Jason Wilcox has highlighted other targets, contributing to the slow progress of any deal.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. On balance, Excelsior Maassluis look well-placed to claim all three points, and a 2-1 home win would not come as a surprise. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. And Fonseca does not place too much weight on the decision of Roberto Martinez to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of his Benfica team-mate Tomas Araujo.