The week of truth for FC Volendam starts with the clash against Excelsior. The Rotterdammers are often at ease in the fishing village, according to the statistics. We take you along a number of striking facts about the duel between the leader and the number three of the first division.
Back in top form
Excelsior seemed to have lost its way after the winter break. The team of coach Marinus Dijkhuizen lost many points in the new year. 5 matches in a row were not won, which means that the deficit on FC Volendam is now 8 points (Volendam has played one game less). The Kralingers have regained their taste in the last 4 games and the full loot was taken 4 times.
Compete for top scorer title
For a long time it seemed to be an equal battle between Volendam striker Robert Mühren and Excelsior striker Thijs Dallinga. It is now clear that the Excelsior striker has found it easier this season. Dallinga has already scored 29 goals this season. Mühren also took the lead in the rankings this season, but due to his goal drought of the last few weeks, the Volendammer is now 7 goals behind. In the last meeting between the two teams, Mühren and Dallinga were the only goalscorers (1-1).
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Excelsior feels at home in Volendam
In a competition context, the match between Volendam and Excelsior was on the program 21 times earlier at De Dijk. Where Volendam in many cases predominates in home matches, in this case it has to lose out for Excelsior. The team from Rotterdam stepped off the field 9 times as the winner, Volendam did that 7 times. 5 encounters in the fishing village ended in a draw. Last year, Volendam lost 0-2 at home.
Darryl van Mieghem
In the current selection of FC Volendam plays one player who wore the shirt of both teams. Darryl van Mieghem played in Rotterdam from 2014 to 2016. In 54 appearances for Excelsior, he scored 5 goals. Last summer, Van Mieghem made the switch from De Graafschap to Volendam.
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clean sheets
In FC Volendam’s 28 matches, keepers Filip Stankovic and Barry Lauwers kept the goal clean 10 times. That is as many clean sheets as Excelsior achieved in 27 games this season. Volendam’s record of most clean sheets in one season dates from 1969/1970 and 2005/2006 (16). Excelsior’s record also dates back to 2005/2006 (18 clean sheets).
The FC Volendam – Excelsior match starts tonight at 8 p.m. On NH Radio you can hear all the developments at the topper at De Dijk.
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