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

With both teams looking to bounce back from respective defeats last time out, Vitesse and Heracles go head-to-head at the Erve Asito on Sunday.

This weekend's contest is the second meeting between the sides this season with Vitesse running out 2-1 winners in December's reverse fixture.

Match preview

Vitesse fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Conference League round-of-16 tie against Italian outfit Roma at the GelreDome on Thursday.

Portuguese midfielder Sergio Oliveira broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time, and that turned out to be the all-important moment in Arnhem.

Just before that, Thomas Letsch's men were involved in a very eventful clash versus Sparta Rotterdam on March 4, which later had to be abandoned due to crowd unrest.

Next up for Geel en Zwart is a fixture that holds happy memories for them having won each of the last four editions by a combined score of 9-1 dating back to 2020.

Ahead of the conclusion of their European tie four days later, Sunday's visitors go in search of a much-needed victory this weekend to help set the tone.

Heracles were beaten away from home for the third game running as they suffered a 3-1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion on Sunday.

Goals from Joey Veerman and Eran Zahavi left Frank Wormuth's men with a mountain to climb, but Samuel Armenteros pulled one back for his side with 21 minutes left on the clock only for Cody Gakpo to put the result beyond doubt moments later.

As a result, The Heraclieden have dropped to 12th place in the Eredivisie table, five points off the top half with nine rounds of matches left to play.

Having lost just one of the last 11 home games across all competitions, Sunday's hosts are definitely a tough nut to crack on their own patch, and it will be interesting to see how things pan out in this one.

Team News

Heracles' Ismail Azzaoui and Kaj Sierhuis are still battling with knee injuries and are both unavailable for this weekend's match.

Lucas Schoofs is set to sit out a fourth consecutive game due to an ankle injury which he picked up versus Utrecht a month ago.

Croatian defender Mateo Les is still nursing a muscle problem and has struggled for both form and fitness this term, with his last appearance coming back in mid-December.

Enzo Cornelisse and Eric Verstappen will not be making the journey to Almelo on Sunday, but the latter is nearing a return to action.

Lois Openda scored both of Vitesse's goals in the reverse fixture, and the 22-year-old is one to keep an eye on despite having failed to find the back of the net in his last four outings.

Heracles possible starting lineup:
Bucker; Quagliata, Knoester, Rente, Fadiga; Hoogma, Ouahim, De la Torre; Basacikoglu, Bakis, Laursen

Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Houwen; Oroz, Doekhi, Rasmussen; Tronstad, Bero, Domgjoni, Wittek, Dasa; Openda, Frederiksen

We say: Heracles 1-1 Vitesse

Vitesse have enjoyed the better of this fixture of late and are huge favourites to emerge victorious in this one. However, the home side are no pushovers on their own turf, so we are backing a share of the spoils.

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