Heracles vs Groningen - prediction, team news, lineups

Already relegated Heracles Almelo volition bring their disappointing Eredivisie run to a adjacent astatine the Asito Stadion against an FC Groningen broadside inactive aiming to unafraid a top-half decorativeness and perchance suffice for European contention adjacent season.

While the hosts look to enactment a miserable play down them with 1 last outing, Groningen get with renewed momentum and the added information of ending a mediocre tally successful Almelo, having failed to triumph immoderate of their past 8 visits against Sunday’s opponents.

Match preview

Heracles volition anticipation to enactment a disappointing run down them aft finishing bottommost of the Eredivisie table with the worst wide grounds among each 18 clubs successful the part this season.

There has been important disapproval directed astatine the Asito Stadion hierarchy, peculiarly towards wide manager Rob Toussaint, caput manager and method manager Ernest Faber, and adjunct manager Hendrie Kruzen, pursuing a play plagued by instability some connected and disconnected the pitch.

Their struggles person mostly been defined by antiaircraft instability, disciplinary issues, and a persistent inability to cod points, problems which reportedly began aboriginal successful the run owed to mediocre recruitment decisions and inconsistent performances.

Since the departure of Jizz Hornkamp to AZ Alkmaar astatine the crook of the twelvemonth aft scoring 10 goals, HAFC person managed conscionable 1 Eredivisie victory, a 2-1 triumph implicit Fortuna Sittard successful February, underlining the dire concern successful Almelo, wherever supporters person not celebrated a location triumph successful much than 2 months.

Confidence has visibly drained from Faber’s broadside during a tally of 4 consecutive defeats, though the nine volition instrumentality immoderate encouragement from their contiguous instrumentality to the Eredivisie aft relegation successful 2022.

Defensive frailties person continued to specify their season, with Heracles conceding 83 league goals truthful far, astatine slightest 14 much than PEC Zwolle, who themselves person shipped 69 goals this campaign.

With relegation already confirmed and small near to play for, Heracles whitethorn attack their last location lucifer with greater freedom, though their attacking struggles stay a large interest aft failing to people successful each of their past 4 matches.

Groningen boosted their hopes of securing a European playoff spot aft ending a three-match winless tally with an awesome 2-1 triumph implicit NEC Nijmegen past weekend.

In the 2025–26 Eredivisie season, the apical 2 teams suffice automatically for the UEFA Champions League, portion clubs finishing betwixt 3rd and ninth participate the playoffs for Europa League and Conference League qualification, with Groningen presently occupying ninth place.

As a result, this fixture carries important value for the visitors, who cognize a triumph successful Almelo could fortify their chances of extending their play into the European qualification phase.

Dick Lukkien’s broadside person endured mixed results distant from location this season, winning six, drafting two, and losing 8 of their 16 distant matches, including a 3-1 decision to Feyenoord successful Rotterdam successful their astir caller trip.

However, Groningen were ascendant successful the reverse fixture against Heracles earlier successful the season, racing into a three-goal pb earlier David van der Werff completed the rout with a stoppage-time strike.

Heracles Eredivisie form:

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Groningen Eredivisie form:

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Team News

Heracles volition beryllium without respective players for Sunday’s clash against Groningen, with apical scorer Luka Kulenovic suspended, portion Naci Unuvar and Ivan Mesik stay sidelined done injury.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Borges Sanches, and Ajdin Hrustic, who is presently preparing for the World Cup with Australia are besides unavailable, though Alec Van Hoorenbeeck and Sem Scheperman person returned from suspension, with Mike te Wierik expected to proceed successful defence arsenic Van Hoorenbeeck is inactive regaining afloat fitness.

For the visitors, Lukkien has an astir afloat acceptable squad available, with lone semipermanent absentees Stije Resink and Oskar Zawada missing for the travel to Almelo.

Younes Taha has emerged arsenic 1 of the Eredivisie’s standout creators this play and heads into the last circular among the league leaders for large chances created, portion Thom van Bergen is expected to proceed starring the enactment alongside the energetic duo of Jorg Schreuders and David van der Werff.

Heracles imaginable starting lineup:

Jansink; Kust, Wierik, Mirani, Benita; Zamburek, Bozinovski; Gilst, Ould-Chikh, Engels; Zeefuik

Groningen imaginable starting lineup:

Vaessen; Rente, Blokzijl, Janse, Peersman; De Jonge, Land; Taha, Van der Werff, Schreuders; Van Bergen

We say: Heracles 0-2 Groningen

Despite Heracles winning conscionable 4 location matches each season, this fixture offers them 1 last accidental to execute successful beforehand of their supporters earlier dropping into the 2nd tier.

Although past favours Faber’s side, who are unbeaten successful their past 8 location matches against Groningen, their existent signifier remains highly poor, and with the visitors inactive chasing a European playoff spot, Groningen look the much apt winners successful Almelo.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.