Heracles vs PEC Zwolle Predictions

High flying Heracles slipped out of the European places last weekend after losing 3-0 at the hands of relegation battlers Groningen, and on Saturday play host to another of the struggling sides in the form of NAC Breda. The visitors pulled off a shock 3-1 win over Feyenoord last time out and their confidence is bound to be high heading into Saturday’s match.

A twelfth minute penalty from Memišević proved enough to hand Groningen a 1-0 lead at half time over Heracles. New signing Bruns scored twice on his debut in the second half to secure Groningen all three points. Heracles have been known for their attacking displays this season, but only mustered two shots on target against a Groningen defence which has been known for leaking goals in the first half of the season. The visitors managed just one corner and five shots in total during the ninety minutes and never really looked like scoring against Groningen.

Feyenoord were left stunned by a clinical display from Zwolle last weekend, where the hosts took the lead through van Polen on the half hour mark. Feyenoord responded well and were back on level terms four minutes later, thanks to a goal from veteran striker van Persie. Early in the second half Zwolle restored their one goal advantage through van Crooij, after good work from teammate Paal who claimed the assist. Feyenoord had more of the ball and did create chances to get back onto level terms, but against the run of play, Zwolle hit their guests with a third goal through Namli in the seventy-sixth minute which proved enough to win the game.

Neither side head into Saturday’s game in good form, but Heracles’ have lost four of their last six and only won two, while Zwolle claim the title of form favourites with two wins, one draw, and three defeats. These two teams have been involved in plenty of high scoring games of late and when they have come up against each other in recent seasons they more often than not produced at least three goals. Four of the last five encounters between Heracles and Zwolle have witnessed over 2.5 goals, while each of Heracles’ and three of Zwolle’s last six competitive matches have also seen at least three goals scored. The inconsistency of both clubs does make this match harder to predict, but we’re backing the pair to play out a stalemate on Saturday.

Peterson has impressed for Heracles this season with ten goals in the Eredivisie, but his recent form has been poor, with just two goals scored in his last nine appearances in the league. Zwolle lacked goals in the first half of the season, so will be buoyed by their 3-1 win over Feyenoord and the trick for Saturday’s guests is to produce this kind of display more often between now and the end of the season. We’re confident that over 2.5 goals will be scored in Saturday’s game and have backed the final scoreline to be 2-2. Zwolle will be happy with a point on the road, while once Heracles get their first points on the board in the new year, we’re confident they will regain their consistency and challenge for the Europa League places.