NEC Make Statement with Dominant Victory, Volendam Hold Heerenveen in Eredivisie Return
The Eredivisie returned with fireworks as NEC Nijmegen sent a clear message to the league with a commanding 5-0 home victory over newly promoted Excelsior. Meanwhile, FC Volendam earned a respectable draw on the road against sc Heerenveen in their first top-flight appearance since winning the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
Let’s break down the action from the opening weekend
NEC Nijmegen 5–0 Excelsior: A Ruthless Start from the Hosts
NEC Nijmegen wasted no time making their mark on the 2025/26 season, delivering a five-star performance in front of their fans at De Goffert. Excelsior, fresh off promotion from the second tier, were handed a brutal reality check as NEC fired five unanswered goals past them.
Midfielder Dirk Proper kicked off the scoring in the 14th minute, calmly slotting home into the bottom corner after smart link-up play from Basar Onal, who found space on the wing before setting up the opener.
Excelsior’s night went from bad to worse when goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel limped off with a groin issue. Shortly after the break, Japanese forward Koki Ogawa stole the spotlight with a sensational overhead kick to double NEC’s lead. The striker wasn’t done there—just seven minutes later, he bagged his second, heading in from another pinpoint cross by Onal.
Bryan Linssen made it four with a quick-thinking finish following a simple assist from Tjaronn Chery, who made his Eredivisie return memorable.
The fifth and final goal came from the penalty spot after substitute Youssef El Kachati was brought down by Excelsior’s young goalkeeper Tijmen Holla. Chery stepped up and coolly converted, capping off an electric performance from Rogier Meijer’s side.
sc Heerenveen 1–1 FC Volendam: Promoted Side Show Grit in Comeback
FC Volendam marked their Eredivisie return with a hard-earned point against Heerenveen, showing resilience and flashes of quality throughout the 1-1 draw at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.
Heerenveen captain Luuk Brouwers opened the scoring in the first half, expertly finishing a deep free-kick cross from Levi Smans with a controlled volley. The home side nearly doubled their lead before the break, but were denied by the post and some sharp goalkeeping.
Smans, one of Heerenveen’s brightest sparks and a reported target for Oxford United, was forced off early in the second half due to injury. Just minutes later, Ozan Kokcu, the Azerbaijani international, pounced to score the equaliser for Volendam.
Heerenveen continued to press late on. Robert Muhren missed a clear-cut chance, and Brandley Kuwas struck the post with a curling free-kick in stoppage time. In the dying moments, a golden opportunity was squandered by the hosts, leaving the sides to share the spoils in a tense season opener.
Around the Grounds
- Feyenoord began their campaign with a confident 2-0 victory over NAC Breda.
- PSV Eindhoven, the defending champions, flexed their muscles in a crushing 6-1 win against Sparta Rotterdam.
