Heracles 1-1 Excelsior: Eredivisie 2025-26 match report

The opening

The Eredivisie encounter at the Asito Stadium on Saturday afternoon ended in a stalemate as Heracles and Excelsior shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Ernest Faber’s Heracles side, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, looked to dictate the tempo early on against Ruben den Uil’s 4-1-4-1 setup. The hosts found their rhythm relatively quickly, though the physical nature of the contest was established early; J. Wieckhoff received a caution in the 14th minute, signaling a combative approach from the home side.

Heracles’ persistence in the final third paid dividends in the 23rd minute. S. Scheperman provided the breakthrough, finding the back of the net to give his side a deserved lead. The goal appeared to disrupt Excelsior’s initial defensive structure, forcing coach Ruben den Uil into an early tactical adjustment. In the 38th minute, L. Schouten was introduced to the fray, replacing R. Meissen in an attempt to stabilize the visitors' backline and prevent Heracles from doubling their advantage before the interval.

The decisive moment

The second half began with immediate personnel changes from Faber, who brought on J. Wieckhoff for M. Benita. However, the momentum shifted shortly after the restart. Excelsior, having reorganized during the break, began to find more space in the wide areas. In the 57th minute, the visitors leveled the score. N. Naujoks provided the creative spark, delivering a precise ball for D. Sanches Fernandes, who converted the opportunity to bring the match back to parity.

The equalizer triggered a flurry of activity from both benches as both coaches sought to find a winning formula. Between the 58th and 72nd minutes, the game saw a significant influx of fresh legs. Faber introduced N. Ünüvar, S. Scheperman, E. Ahlstrand, and R. Bozinovski, while Den Uil responded by bringing on Jerolldino Armantrading and G. de Regt. Despite the tactical tinkering, the match descended into a more fragmented affair. The intensity remained high, evidenced by a late yellow card for S. Włodarczyk in the 80th minute and a subsequent caution for M. Engels in the 87th minute. Neither side could manufacture a clear-cut chance in the closing stages, and the match concluded without further incident.

Looking ahead

The result leaves both sides with a point that does little to drastically alter their respective trajectories in the Eredivisie. For Heracles, the inability to hold onto a lead at home highlights a need for greater defensive concentration, while Excelsior will take confidence from their resilience in recovering from a deficit away from home.