De Graafschap vs Heracles Predictions

All of the newly promoted clubs look set to be involved in the relegation battle this season, but its Emmen and De Graafschap that currently occupy places in the drop zone. De Graafschap just need to better the result of Excelsior and equal that of Emmen to lift themselves out of the relegation zone this weekend, but that’s much easier said than done as they face high flying Heracles on Saturday. The visitors have endured a mostly positive campaign so far, but they are guilty of being inconsistent at times and that could be their undoing in the race for the European places. A victory on Saturday could lift Heracles back into the top five, and their form heading into the match suggests they are more than capable of claiming all three points this weekend.

Before the international break De Graafschap produced a clinical counter attacking display away at Heerenveen and came away with an emphatic 3-0 victory. The hosts had more of the ball and created more goal scoring opportunities, but goals from Benschop, Vet, and Burgzorg saw De Graafschap leave with all three points. Heracles and Vitesse produced a five-goal thriller at the Polman Stadion last time out, with the hosts twice losing a lead before scoring the all important fifth goal in the second half. Adrián Dalmau scored twice in the first half as the teams went in level at the break 2-2, with Vitesse going down to ten-men in the thirty-eighth minute when Clark picked up his second booking. The host’s one man advantage wasn’t all that clear to see during the second half, but Heracles did eventually score the games winning goal through Van den Buijs in the sixty-first minute.

The head to head record between these two sides and their form in the Eredivisie heading into this weekend clash all point towards a win for Heracles on Saturday. Heracles have won their last seven competitive matches against De Graafschap, and five of those seven wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet. De Graafschap have lost three of their last six in the Eredivisie, while Heracles have won four of their last six in the league. Heracles’ last three away games have produced under 2.5 goals, which includes a 1-1 draw against Emmen, a 1-0 win over VVV, and a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Zwolle. Heracles have clearly outperformed De Graafschap this season, scoring more and conceding fewer goals, which is why we’re leaning towards a final scoreline of 1-0 to the visitors this weekend.

Spaniard Dalmau top scores for Heracles this season with fourteen goals in the Eredivisie, but teammate Peterson isn’t too far behind on eleven. El Jebli leads the way in front of goal for De Graafschap with eight goals, with suspended teammate Serrarens two behind him on six. We’re confident that Heracles will claim all three points on Saturday, and have predicted a narrow final scoreline of 1-0. The visitors have a great record against De Graafschap, winning their last seven encounters, and Heracles also head into the game in good form with four wins from their last six in the Eredivisie. De Graafschap were impressive last time out against Heerenveen, but the international break could well have dampened any momentum the hosts had hoped to gain from that victory.