Highlighted: Excelsior the newest succes from Rotterdam

After seven match rounds, Excelsior has accumulated twelve points in the Eredivisie, their highest ever total after this many matches in a season at the top level (calculated at three points per win). Furthermore, only Feyenoord, PSV, and AZ have scored more goals in the league than Excelsior (14, tied with FC Twente). The Kralingers have never been so prolific in the first seven league matches. This currently places the red and black team in fifth position in the standings. Excelsior's best final ranking has been ninth place, achieved twice in 1979/80 and 1982/83, so given their current position on the table, this could potentially be their best season ever.

Thanks to Nikolas Agrafiotis, history was already made earlier this season. With his goal in the last match of the previous season and the first four matches of this season, he became the second Excelsior player ever to score in five consecutive Eredivisie matches, following Cees Schapendonk in 1987. But the Serbian-Greek Dutchman is not the only Excelsior player capable of scoring. Eight different players have found the net for the Rotterdammers in this Eredivisie season, with only Feyenoord (11) and PSV (9) having more different goal scorers this season (Heracles also with 8).

Last weekend, Troy Parrott emerged as a hero by securing the victory for Excelsior in stoppage time during the Rotterdam derby against Sparta. It was the second consecutive substitute appearance in which the Irishman scored. Never before has an Excelsior player scored in three consecutive substitute appearances, so perhaps that's the next record that will be shattered

Excelsior aims for its third consecutive Eredivisie victory against Vitesse. The last time the team won so many in a row within a single Eredivisie season was in May 2017 (four in a row back then). It won't be easy, but for now, Excelsior doesn't have to worry about the relegation zone.