Highlighted: Houdini on the way to de Dijk?
FC Volendam still have hopes of a year of Eredivisie football after a 3-2 victory over RKC Waalwijk. After 29 games, Regillio Simons' team is in seventeenth place with nineteen points, three points less than 16th-ranked Excelsior. On Friday, both teams kick off on matchday 30, a real relegation battle.
Is there still hope for FC Volendam?
A few weeks ago, the situation in Volendam was quite different. In matchday 26, they lost 0-4 to AZ, while Vitesse managed to secure a point against Almere City FC. Back then, FC Volendam was eight points behind RKC Waalwijk and Excelsior. It has never happened before that the Eredivisie's last-placed team after 26 rounds had at least eight points less than the number 16 and managed to overcome this deficit (converted to three points per victory). With a win, FC Volendam, despite a worse goal difference than Excelsior (-40 to -24), still has every chance to secure safety (through the playoffs).
Volendam players celebrate goal against Heracles (23-09-2023)
Volendam aim to continue positive series against Excelsior
The form of both teams will give FC Volendam confidence for a positive result at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadium. Hosts Excelsior have gained only one point from their last ten league matches, while FC Volendam remained unbeaten in the last three Eredivisie matchdays, securing five points. That's just one point less than in the previous fifteen league matches combined. Additionally, FC Volendam has the chance to stay unbeaten in four consecutive Eredivisie matches for the first time since March-April 2009. Back then, the team under Frans Adelaar stayed unbeaten five times in a row.
The driving force behind Volendam's revival
FC Volendam's good results are largely thanks to good old Robert Mühren. In the unbeaten streak of three matches, he scored three of Volendam's four goals, bringing the 34-year-old striker's season total to eight goals, his highest ever in a top-flight season in the Netherlands. The last player to score more than eight goals for FC Volendam in an Eredivisie season was Marco Boogers in 1997/98 (9, Daryl van Mieghem also 8 in 2022/23).
Robert Mühren celebrates victory over FC Utrecht (06-10-2023)
Robert Mühren in the Eredivisie – seasons with 4+ goals.
| Season | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
|
2023/24 |
FC Volendam |
8 |
|
2017/18 |
Sparta Rotterdam |
7 |
|
2016/17 |
AZ |
6 |
|
2022/23 |
FC Volendam |
5 |
|
2014/15 |
AZ |
4 |
Mühren hopes to shine again against Excelsior
Against Excelsior, Mühren meets one of his favourite opponents. He has scored 12 goals against them (3 in the Eredivisie, 9 in the Eerste Divisie), and no team is targeted more often in Dutch professional football (also 12 against Almere City and FC Dordrecht). That he still mastered this art he proved earlier this season in the 3-1 win over Excelsior by scoring the 2-1. Marinus Dijkhuizen's out-of-form team is therefore warned of a Volendam that smells blood, with Mühren's sharp nose for goals.
Follow the match between Excelsior - FC Volendam live at 20:00 on ESPN this friday!
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