Heracles vs De Graafschap Predictions

Last weekends impressive 5-3 win away at Heerenveen moved Heracles above AZ Alkmaar and into fourth place in the Eredivisie after five games, and on Friday the in form hosts will be expecting three more points to be put on the board against struggling De Graafschap. The visitors unexpectedly beat Feyenoord in their opening game of the season, but since then the newly promoted club have suffered three defeats and managed one draw.

It rained goals at the Abe Lenstra Stadion in Heerenveen last weekend as Heracles ran out 5-3 winners in an eight-goal thriller. Just two of the eight goals were scored in the first side, with the visitors Heracles opening the scoring in the twelfth minute through Dalmau and Lammers levelling the teams in first half stoppage time.

Conceding that late goal in the first half could have gone against the Heracles’ players during the break, but instead they reacted fantastically and were in front again just three minutes after the restart through midfielder Duarte. Once again Lammers came to the rescue for Heerenveen, this time converting a fifty-third minute penalty to make the scores 2-2.

The teams were level for just ten minutes before Sweden’s Peterson put the visitors in front for the third time in the match, only for fellow Scandinavian Thorsby to continue his good run in front of goal for the hosts four minutes later and level the teams at three goals apiece. However, not one to be beaten, Peterson scored his second goal of the game to make it 4-3 to Heracles in the seventy-second minute and this time the visitors held onto their advantage and wrapped up all three points two minutes from time through Osman.

Swedish striker Peterson is already one league goal behind his total of seven from last season, which is also the 23-year old’s personal seasons best so far in his short career. Serrarens is the only player in the De Graafschap’s squad to have scored more than once this season, but his total of two suggests the newly promoted club might struggle for goals this season.

Last weekend De Graafschap had the home advantage against VVV, but were unable to comeback from two goals down at half time and suffered a third defeat of the campaign. Sušić set the visitors on their way to three points with the games opening goal in the sixth minute, and teammate Post doubled VVV’s lead on the half hour mark.

The hosts made two changes at the break in an attempt to get back into the match, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Burgzorg in the seventieth minute that De Graafschap looked more potent in the final third. The substitute pulled a goal back in the eighty-ninth minute, but VVV held on to secure three points on the road and move into sixth place.

De Graafschap now sit fourth from bottom and could find themselves in the relegation zone or even bottom of the table if they lose on Friday and Zwolle, Breda, and Groningen all avoid defeat over the weekend.

We’re confident that Heracles will win on Friday and that both teams will score, with the final score reading 4-1 to the hosts. Heracles have won three of their last four Eredivisie games, while De Graafschap have lost three of their last four Eredivisie games. Both teams have scored in four of Heracles’ last six matches and three De Graafschap’s last six matches, which is why we fancy both teams to get on the scoreboard on Friday.