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

Aiming to avoid a sixth straight defeat, Heracles welcome high-flying Groningen to the Erve Asito on Saturday.

The away side, on the other hand, head into the clash unbeaten in their last six outings where they have picked up three wins and three draws apiece.

Match preview

Groningen secured safe passage into the next round of the KNVB-Beker following a 4-2 extra-time victory over Excelsior on Wedesnday.

The game ended 2-2 in normal time as goals from Cyril Ngonge and Mo El Hankouri drew Danny Buijs's men level on separate occasions before Jorgen Strand Larsen netted twice in the additional 30 minutes.

Trots van het Noorden held Feyenoord to a 1-1 stalemate in their last league involvement and have now moved up to 11th place, just three points off the top half.

Lying in store next for them is a contest versus an opposing side who came out on top in both of last season's meetings without conceding a single goal.

Heracles have been knocked out of the KNVB-Beker courtesy of a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday.

Goals from Vangelis Pavlidis and Yusuf Barasi either side of a Jesper Karlsson double put Frank Wormuth's men to the sword.

Having also lost their four league games prior to that, the Heraclieden are currently hovering above the drop zone by just two points.

Saturday's visitors have let in the joint second-fewest goals in home matches so far and will hope to use that as a platform for a positive result this weekend.

Team News

Heracles' Ismail Azzaoui is out with a knee problem which has seen him miss each of his side's last three games.

The hosts will also be without the services of Delano Burgzorg and Kasper Jakobsen, who are down with groin and knee injuries respectively.

Damil Dankerlui and Radinio Balker remain sidelined for Groningen and will play no part in Saturday's clash.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is one to keep an eye on as he has now scored in each of his last three matches away from home.

Heracles possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Quagliata, Knoester, Rente, Bakboord; De La Torre, Kioumourtzoglou, Sierhuis; Laursen, Sierra, Bakis

Groningen possible starting lineup:
Leeuwenburgh; Kasanwirjo, Sverko, Te Wierik, Van Hintum; Duarte, Dammers, Ngonge; Suslov, El Hankouri, Strand Larsen

We say: Heracles 1-2 Groningen

Groningen have been hard to beat of late having lost just one of their last 11 games, in stark contrast to Heracles, who have lost eight times in that span. We fancy the away team to emerge victorious, narrowly edging out their hosts by the odd goal.

Previews by email