Excelsior faced FC Utrecht in a thrilling match at the Galgenwaard stadium. Excelsior, hoping to secure their first points of the season after a promising performance against Feyenoord the previous week, went behind early.
First Half Action
The match started with Excelsior kicking off. However, FC Utrecht quickly asserted their dominance, pushing Excelsior back into their own half. Despite this pressure, Utrecht struggled to create clear-cut chances. In the 28th minute, Rodriguez headed in a corner, giving FC Utrecht a 1-0 lead.
Excelsior managed a few sporadic attacks, with Van Duinen firing a shot from distance that went wide. Utrecht continued to press, winning a free kick that led to a series of blocked shots inside the Excelsior penalty area.
Goalkeeper Raatsie was called into action early, bravely coming off his line to deny Rodriguez after Zechiël had played him through.
Jans Plans Rotation
FC Utrecht coach Ron Jans is keen on keeping his squad fresh, especially with European matches adding to the fixture congestion. He made changes to his starting lineup for the match against the Bosnian side and hinted at further changes for the Excelsior game. Jans stressed the importance of recovery, focusing on nutrition, transport, sleep, and training.
"There will be some changes on Sunday, yes. Maybe in different positions than on Thursday? That's possible," Jans told Algemeen Dagblad. He also emphasized that there's no time for celebrations, with the players needing to maintain a monk-like focus during these busy weeks.
Looking Ahead
With a demanding schedule ahead, FC Utrecht will need to manage their squad carefully to compete on both domestic and European fronts. The match against Excelsior served as a crucial test of their depth and tactical flexibility.