Feyenoord and Excelsior Share Points in Exciting Friendly as Read Returns

Feyenoord and Excelsior played to a 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly match on Friday, April 17, 2026, marking the return of young defender Givairo Read to first-team action following an injury layoff. The Dutch teenager, who turned 19 just two months ago, featured for approximately 30 minutes in the encounter that saw both teams field largely reserve squads ahead of their upcoming Eredivisie fixtures.

The match, held as part of Feyenoord’s preparation for their Eredivisie clash with FC Groningen scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2026, began with Read in the starting lineup. However, the Feyenoord academy product was substituted at halftime and did not return to the field after the break, having played exactly one half of the 60-minute contest, which was structured as two 30-minute periods.

Excelsior took the lead early in the match when Ilai Grootfaam, a former Ajax youth player, scored the opening goal by driving the ball hard into the near corner. The young winger’s strike gave the Rotterdam-based visitors an early advantage against their city rivals.

Feyenoord equalized shortly after halftime through a powerful header from Mike van Duinen, who found the net to level the score at 1-1. The goal came from a well-taken set-piece situation, with Van Duinen rising highest to meet the delivery and direct it past the Excelsior goalkeeper.

Despite dominating possession and creating several chances in the second half, Feyenoord were unable to uncover a winner. Casper Tengstedt, the Danish striker who joined the club in the winter transfer window, had a notable opportunity to secure victory for the home side but headered his chance wide of the target, leaving the match finely balanced.

Read’s appearance marked his first involvement with the Feyenoord first team since early January 2026, when he last featured in competitive action before suffering an injury that kept him sidelined for several months. The right-back, who primarily plays as a defender but can as well operate on the left flank, has been a key part of Feyenoord’s plans since joining the club permanently in July 2024 from FC Volendam’s academy system.

The Dutch international youth representative has accumulated significant experience at various levels despite his young age. Read made his senior debut for Jong Volendam in the Tweede Divisie in March 2022 at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest player ever to feature for the reserve team at that level. He later scored his first goal for Jong Volendam a week later, setting another record as the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.

After progressing through FC Volendam’s youth ranks, Read made his Eredivisie debut for the first team in March 2023 against Fortuna Sittard before establishing himself as a regular for Feyenoord. During the 2023-24 season, he made 38 appearances and scored two goals for the Rotterdam club, contributing to their domestic campaigns.

On the international stage, Read has represented the Netherlands at multiple youth levels. He featured for the Netherlands U17 team during the 2022-23 season and was a regular for the Netherlands U19 squad from 2023 to 2025, making 19 appearances and scoring two goals. His contributions helped the Netherlands win the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2025, held in Romania. Most recently, he earned his first call-up to the Netherlands U21 team in 2025, making his debut at that level.

The friendly against Excelsior served as valuable preparation for both clubs as they approach the business finish of the 2025-26 Eredivisie season. Feyenoord will look to build on this result when they host FC Groningen at De Kuip on April 26, 2026, in a match that could have significant implications for their league positioning. Excelsior, meanwhile, will prepare for their own home fixture against FC Utrecht the following day, Sunday, April 27, 2026.

Read’s return to action is a positive development for Feyenoord’s defensive options as they navigate the final stretch of the season. The versatile defender, comfortable on either flank, provides manager Brian Priske with additional tactical flexibility as the team competes on multiple fronts. His youth and potential have been evident since breaking through at FC Volendam, and his continued development will be closely monitored by both club and national team coaches.

As both Rotterdam clubs continue their preparations for crucial league encounters, Friday’s friendly provided meaningful minutes for players returning from injury or seeking to regain match fitness. The 1-1 result reflected the competitive nature of the Rotterdam derby, even in a pre-season context, with both sides demonstrating quality and determination throughout the evenly contested match.

Feyenoord will next compete in Eredivisie action against FC Groningen on Saturday, April 26, 2026, at De Kuip in Rotterdam. Excelsior will follow with their home match against FC Utrecht on Sunday, April 27, 2026. Givairo Read’s availability for either fixture will depend on his recovery progress and the coaching staff’s assessment of his readiness to return to competitive action.

The young defender’s return represents a significant milestone in his recovery journey and adds valuable depth to Feyenoord’s defensive resources as they aim to achieve their seasonal objectives. His performance in the friendly against Excelsior will be analyzed by the technical staff as they determine his integration back into the team’s plans for the remaining fixtures of the 2025-26 campaign.