Heracles vs Heerenveen Predictions

Heracles finished seventh in the Eredivisie last season, despite at times looking as if they might challenge for the Champions League places, while Heerenveen ended the campaign in a disappointing eleventh due to a defence that simply conceded far too many goals.

Both teams enjoyed pre-season for the most part, picking up wins in the majority of their matches, and will be hoping to take that form into the new Eredivisie season. Heracles first friendly saw them lose to Excelsior before beating Rot Weiss Oberhausen and then losing again to another Dutch side Volendam. Three wins against Asteras Tripolis, Helmond Sport, and most impressively Bayer Leverkusen followed. Heerenveen only lost once during pre-season against Volendam, picking up draws against Mechelen and St. Pauli, and beating Buitenpost, Meppen, and Sunderland.

The recent encounters between these two clubs and both sides’ form and performances over the last six weeks point towards both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals being produced in Sunday’s match, with the most likely result being a draw. Five of the last six meetings between these two clubs have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in three of Heracles’ last four matches, while both teams scored and over 2.5 goals were produced in four of Heerenveen’s last six matches. Heracles have won four and lost two of their last six matches, while Heerenveen have lost one, drawn two, and won three of their last six, which is why we’re backing Sunday’s season opener to end in a 2-2 draw.

Adrián Dalmau left Heracles in the summer and Sunday’s hosts will be hoping to replace his goals with the signing of Cyriel Dessers who arrived as part of the deal that saw the Spaniard move to Utrecht. Heerenveen forked out almost £2m on young Nigerian attacker Chidera Ejuke from Valerenga but lost two key players in Vlap and Pierie, while Thorsby moved on a free transfer to Sampdoria. We’re confident that both teams will score and over 2.5 goals will be produced on Sunday and have predicted a final scoreline of 2-2. Both teams have lost some key players over the summer and their new signings could take time to get up to speed with the Eredivisie. however, we still expect an action-packed ninety minutes, with plenty of talking points, and goals at both ends of the pitch.