Preview: FC Volendam vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side could potentially move out of the relegation zone with a win, with the away side looking to break into the top seven.

Match preview

After gaining automatic promotion to the top flight last season, Volendam have so far found it hard to compete with the better quality opponents, picking up just six points in eight games, sitting bottom of the league.

Het Nieuwe Oranje are two points from safety as things stand, currently on a seven-game winless run, stretching back to a 1-0 victory over FC Twente at the end of August.

It has not just been the defeats that have been the problem for Wim Jonk's side, but the manner of them, losing 4-1 to NEC in their second league outing, 7-1 at PSV Eindhoven, and 4-0 in another dismal display against Sparta Rotterdam.

These heavy losses have taken their toll on Volendam's defensive record, shipping a whopping 28 goals in 10 league games, the most of any side.

There were some positives to take from the most recent fixture, managing to get a much-needed point on the board away at Emmen, the side directly above them in the league.

However, Jonk's men will be disappointed to have thrown a lead away for the third time this season, having been put into the ascendency by Walid Ould-Chikh, before Ahmed El Messaoudi equalised just three minutes later.

Heerenveen have made a solid enough start to the campaign, currently in eighth place, the same position that they finished in last season.

Just outside the playoffs for Europa Conference League qualification, De Superfriezen will be hoping that they can inch closer with a win, which they should be expected to attain given the difference in quality between the two sides.

Kees van Wonderen's men have somewhat bizarre records at both ends of the pitch, boasting a defence that has conceded the same amount as first-placed Ajax, but only managing to score nine goals down the other end, a worse record than opponents Volendam.

Indeed, the away side have failed to score in six of their 10 league matches this season, being involved in four 0-0 draws already, also losing 5-0 to Ajax and 1-0 against PSV.

Last time out, Heerenveen would have thought that the game was theirs, leading 1-0 at Go Ahead Eagles courtesy of a Thom Haye goal, but Finn Stokkers struck a deserved stoppage-time equaliser to deny them of all three points.

FC Volendam Eredivisie form:

L

L

D

L

L

D

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:

D

L

W

D

L

D

Team News

Jonk has favoured a 4-3-3 formation in the majority of his side's Eredivisie matches this season, with Daryl van Mieghem on the left side of the attack, and Ibrahim El Kadiri on the opposite flank.

Carel Eiting weighed in with a goal from central-midfield in the recent defeat to Ajax, where he is likely to start alongside Benaissa Benamar.

Centre-back Damon Mirani has started every game for Het Nieuwe Oranje so far this season, forming a partnership with 20-year-old Xavier Mbuyamba in each of the last six games, and they are expected to start together again.

As for Heerenveen, defender Joost van Aken has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, with Syb van Ottele set to get the nod in his absence.

Number nine Amin Sarr has been more prolific with assists than goals so far this season, racking up five in 10 appearances, and likely to lead the line alongside Sydney van Hooijdonk.

FC Volendam possible starting lineup:

Stankovic; Plat, Buur, Mbuyamba, Murkin; Benamar, Mirani, Eiting; Van Mieghem, Ould-Chikh, El Kadiri

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Noppert; Van Ewijk, Van Beek, Bochniewicz, Van Ottele, Kohlert; Haye, Halilovic, Olsson; Sarr, Van Hooijdonk

We say: FC Volendam 0-1 Heerenveen

After a poor start to the season from Volendam, we expect Heerenveen to do just enough to wrap up all three points. However, with the away side struggling for goals so far, the game is likely to be won by a narrow margin.

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