Heracles vs Utrecht Predictions

• Heracles have scored 73% of their league goals at home (W5, D3, L3).
• Both teams scored in four of Heracles’ last five home games.
• In spite of their superior position, Utrecht won just three of ten away league games.
• There were at least three goals scored in each of Utrecht’s last eight away games.

Different aims, same desire to win

Heracles are sailing a little too close to the sun in terms of Eredivisie safety, with defeat potentially leaving them within touching distance of the drop zone if results go against them over the course of the weekend fixtures. However, they can rely on a solid home record, with a considerable 18 of their 20-point haul coming here in Almelo.

The European places are the aim for FC Utrecht, though they are also a ‘home’ side in the respect that just 31% of their points haul was picked up on the road. Even so, they managed to end a five-game winless run of away games last time out and no home side have kept them from scoring across the last ten trips since a 1-0 defeat to Heracles’ bitter rivals, Twente.

More of the same for Utrecht?

Visiting manager Rene Hake knows this opposition well, having managed against Heracles in the hotly contested Twentse derby on four prior occasions. Across his six personal H2Hs with Heracles, he has never lost or seen his side fail to score (W5, D1).

However, given that Utrecht have failed to keep a clean sheet in five of their last six away games, conceding over two goals a game on average across the period, combined with Heracles’ relatively solid home form, this could end up being a high-scoring 2-2 draw.

For the main prediction, I am going both teams to score with over 2.5 total goals, I can’t see Utrecht failing to get on the scoresheet here, but their woeful travelling defensive record should allow more than a few chances for Heracles to sneak a goal or two.

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