Preview: Heracles vs. Feyenoord - prediction, team news, lineups

Feyenoord square off against Heracles on Thursday knowing that victory will secure fifth position in the Eredivisie standings.

While the visitors are attempting to qualify for the Europa League, Heracles will finish in the top half of the table if they can claim four points from their remaining two matches.

Match preview

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With RKC Waalwijk to come at the weekend, Feyenoord boss Dick Advocaat will remain confident that his side will eventually finish in the top five of the standings.

However, on the back of two straight defeats, Feyenoord need a positive response, particularly having succumbed 3-0 at the hands of Ajax last weekend.

That game was effectively decided by two own goals, but Advocaat will not use that as an excuse with his team having now shipped six strikes in two matches.

Given the difficulty of Vitesse's closing two fixtures, Feyenoord will still have fourth spot in their sights, although Advocaat will now be more than satisfied with edging out FC Utrecht for the final Europa League spot.

Feyenoord have had players sent off in each of their last three fixtures, a run that their veteran boss will demand comes to an end on Thursday afternoon.

While seventh spot is realistically out of Heracles' reach, manager Frank Wormuth will want his team to perform against the odds to secure eighth.

Heracles are the outsiders against Feyenoord and AZ, but picking up seven points from their most recent four fixtures has kept the club above some of their faltering rivals.

Wormuth's side were denied at FC Twente in their last outing, with Danilo netting an 89th-minute equaliser for the home side.

On a more positive note, Heracles took their recent tally to 10 strikes in four encounters, a statistic which will concern their high-profile opponents ahead of the game at Erve Asito.

Team News

Feyenoord will be without Tyrell Malacia after the left-back was sent off against Ajax for two yellow cards.

Ridgeciano Haps is in line to come into the team, while Nicolai Jorgensen is pushing for an opportunity in the final third.

Jens Toornstra will also come back into contention having served a one-match ban.

Wormuth is expected to keep changes to a minimum after his Heracles players impressed during the draw at Twente.

Ismail Azzaoui may get the nod on the right flank ahead of Kasper Lunding Jakobsen.

Heracles possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Fadiga, Propper, Knoester, Quagliata; Vloet, Schoofs, Torre; Azzaoui, Bakis, Burgzorg

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Bijlow; Geertruida, Botteghin, Senesi, Haps; Teixeira, Fer, Kokcu; Linssen, Jorgensen, Toornstra

We say: Heracles 1-2 Feyenoord

Given Feyenoord's recent form in the Eredivisie, Heracles will fancy their chances of causing an upset.

However, with Europa League football at stake, we expect the visitors to raise their game and edge out their hosts.