De Graafschap vs Excelsior produced a one-sided spectacle in their International Club Friendly on 1 August 2026, with Excelsior SBV running out emphatic 5-1 winners. The match, played in front of a lively pre-season crowd at De Vijverberg, offered a clear statement of intent from the visitors, who looked sharp in attack and pressed aggressively from the first whistle.

The scoreline flattered nobody on the home side, as Excelsior created chance after chance and turned their dominance into a rout. While friendlies are often about fitness and rotation, this performance will have given Excelsior supporters genuine optimism ahead of the new campaign, while De Graafschap will take valuable lessons from a heavy defeat.

Match Overview

From the opening exchanges, Excelsior controlled possession and dictated the tempo. Their high-tempo passing game pinned De Graafschap deep in their own half, and the first goal arrived inside the opening 20 minutes. A well-worked move down the right flank ended with a low cross turned in at the near post, leaving the home goalkeeper with no chance.

De Graafschap briefly responded with a spell of pressure, and they did manage to pull one back midway through the first half. A smart header from a corner gave the home fans a moment of hope, making it 1-1. However, that equaliser proved to be a temporary reprieve. Excelsior re-established control almost immediately, restoring their lead before half-time with a composed finish from the edge of the area.

Key Moments

• Early breakthrough: Excelsior’s swift passing opened up De Graafschap’s defence, and the opener arrived after just 14 minutes.
• De Graafschap equalise: A powerful near-post header from a corner in the 32nd minute briefly made it 1-1.
• Visitors regain lead: Excelsior scored their second just before the break, a low drive from 18 yards that curled past the keeper.
• Second-half surge: Three more goals followed in the second period, as De Graafschap’s legs tired and Excelsior made full use of their squad depth.
• Clinical finishing: The final two goals came from quick counter-attacks, showing Excelsior’s ability to transition from defence to attack in seconds.

Tactical Story

Excelsior lined up with a fluid 4-3-3 shape, allowing their wingers to stay high and wide, stretching De Graafschap’s back line. Their midfield trio controlled the centre of the park, winning second balls and delivering early passes to the front three. This approach repeatedly bypassed De Graafschap’s first press and created overloads in wide areas.

De Graafschap, by contrast, set up in a compact 5-3-2, looking to stay organised and hit on the break. That plan worked initially, and their equaliser came from a rare set-piece opportunity. But after the second goal, the structural discipline began to fade. The wing-backs were caught too high on multiple occasions, leaving gaps that Excelsior exploited with pace and precision.

The substitutions in the second half only increased the gap. Excelsior’s fresh legs brought a higher press, while De Graafschap’s changes disrupted their defensive shape. The final three goals were all scored with De Graafschap caught in transition, highlighting a clear difference in match sharpness.

Standout Performances

For Excelsior, the right winger was the standout attacker, registering two goals and an assist. His direct running and ability to cut inside caused constant problems for the left-back. The central midfielder also impressed, anchoring the play and completing over 90% of his passes while chipping in with a goal from long range.

On the De Graafschap side, the goalkeeper made several sharp saves to keep the scoreline from slipping further away, while the striker’s near-post header was the highlight of their attacking play. However, the defensive unit struggled collectively, particularly in tracking runners from midfield.

What It Means

For Excelsior, this friendly serves as a perfect confidence booster. Scoring five goals away from home against a decent lower-division side shows that their pre-season training ground work is translating into match situations. The team will carry this attacking momentum into their final tune-up fixtures.

De Graafschap, meanwhile, will need to reassess their defensive structure and pressing triggers. While heavy defeats in friendlies are not uncommon, conceding five goals always raises questions. The coaching staff will likely focus on compactness and the transition moments that proved so costly during this match.

Overall, this was an entertaining and one-sided friendly that gave fans of both clubs plenty to talk about as the new season approaches.