Both sides enter this early-season contest with heavily rotated squads, with VVV Venlo missing six regular starters and De Graafschap seven, which could make the match far less predictable than the recent head-to-heads suggest. Venlo's only home game this term ended in a 4-3…
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Sign inVVV Venlo host De Graafschap in Eerste Divisie on Sunday, 23 August 2026, in a Round 3 contest that pits two sides still seeking to find their rhythm after mixed starts. With no confirmed venue information available, the focus falls squarely on the pitch, where recent meetings between these two have been eventful, including a 3-3 thriller last season.
Both managers appear to have near-full squads to choose from. VVV Venlo's Edhy Zuliani, who picked up a player-of-the-match award in an earlier fixture this season, will be the focal point of the attack once again. The forward has started the campaign brightly and will likely lead the line alongside Dean Zandbergen and experienced midfielder Alex Schalk. For De Graafschap, the line-up is expected to closely resemble the side that drew 1-1 with Helmond Sport in their last outing, as no fresh injury concerns have surfaced in the build-up to this weekend's match.
Venlo come into this fixture on the back of a high-scoring 3-4 defeat against Heracles, a match that showed both their attacking potential and defensive fragility. That result followed a mixed start to the regular season, with a 2-0 loss away to Helmond Sport exposing their difficulties on the road, while a 3-1 victory over Almere City FC demonstrated that on their day they can be clinical in front of goal. Head coach Rick Kruys will want to see greater compactness from a defence that has conceded seven times in the last two matches, especially given the attacking threats De Graafschap possess.
De Graafschap opened their Eerste Divisie account with a 1-1 draw against Helmond Sport on 17 August. While a point on the road is rarely a poor result at this level, the manner of the performance left some questions about the team's cutting edge. They will take encouragement from historically entertaining encounters against VVV Venlo, none more so than the 3-3 draw the sides played out last season. Manager Jan Vreman will likely set his team up to exploit the spaces Venlo have left in behind so far this term.
Zuliani has been one of the bright sparks for VVV Venlo. De Graafschap's defence, marshalled by their experienced centre-backs, will need to close down the striker quickly and cut off the supply line from Schalk and Nassim Ait Mouhou breaking from midfield. If De Graafschap allow Zuliani time to turn and run at the back four, Venlo have the tools to make them pay. The visiting full-backs will also need to be mindful of overlapping runs from Lars de Blok, who provides width and deliveries from the left.
Victory for either side would provide an early-season lift and push them towards the higher reaches of the table as the season begins to take shape. Both teams will see this as a winnable fixture, and the next round of matches will offer little respite, making three points on Sunday a valuable prize.
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