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

The visitors are sat just above the relegation zone right now in the Eredivisie and are without a win in their previous nine matches across all competitions.

Match preview

Heerenveen were left disappointed last weekend when they were defeated by AZ Alkmaar with two goals in the space of 10 minutes proving to be too much for them to overcome.

It marked the second league game in a row where the team have failed to find the back of the net, which is an area of concern for them to focus on this time out.

However, goals in home matches have proven to be hard to come by for Heerenveen, scoring just seven times across their eight games so far.

Despite those difficulties, the club does sit in eighth place, and a win this weekend has the possibility of pushing them into the top seven depending on other results.

With a recent victory in the KNVB Cup under their belts the team should have some confidence to take into this one to try and get a positive result.

Of course, the visitors will be pushing to stop that, and Groningen will be desperate to pick up a win to end their poor run of form.

They have failed to win in their last nine matches in all competitions which has created a very tough period for the team.

A 3-0 loss against Feyenoord was the most recent defeat that Dennis van der Ree's men suffered, and it left them just above the relegation zone.

They currently sit just three points off the foot of the table, and only goal difference is keeping them out of the bottom three at the moment, placing pressure on this fixture.

Away from home Groningen have only managed a single victory this season, which is something that they are going to have to change sooner than later.

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:

W

L

W

W

D

L

Groningen Eredivisie form:

W

D

L

L

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L

Team News

Sven van Beek missed out on Heerenveen's most recent match due to an Achilles injury, and that is something that should keep him on the sidelines for the immediate future as well.

Pelle van Amersfoort did retain his place in the starting lineup after scoring in his first competitive start, but he did not play all 90 minutes, which could make him a doubt this time around.

The visitors will still be looking for answers when they head into this match to try and stop the rot that they are dealing with right now.

There are issues defensively and with their lack of goals, but the latter is something that Ricardo Pepi will be hoping to change as he is expected to keep leading the line.

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Noppert; Kohlert, Bochniewicz, Van Aken, Van Ewijk; Tahiri, Haye; Olsson, Van Amersfoort, Sarr; Van Hooijdonk

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Verrips; Van Gelderen, Balker, Blokzijl, Maatta; Valente, Oratmangoen, Kasanwirjo, Van Bergen, Suslov; Pepi

We say: Heerenveen 2-0 Groningen

Heerenveen might have struggled in their most recent performance, but they should head into this game as the clear favourites.

The visitors are on a difficult run of form right now, and playing away from home is unlikely going to be the moment that all changes.

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