Preview: Heracles vs. SBV Excelsior - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season after collecting five points from their opening three games.

Match preview

After winning the Eerste Divisie title to win promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking, Heracles began the 2023-24 campaign with a heavy 4-1 defeat against record Eredivisie winners Ajax.

There was a risk that heads would drop following a tough opening game, but Heracles showed great character to come from a goal down to beat NEC last weekend.

Emil Hansson found the net just after the hour mark to cancel out Koki Agawa's opener, before Anas Ouahim scored the decisive goal to guide his side to their first victory of the new season.

Heracles have had two weeks to celebrate that narrow win, and they will refocus for Saturday's encounter as they look to record consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since September/October 2021.

John Lammers's side lost just one of their 19 home league games during their promotion-winning campaign, and they will recognise the importance of utilising home advantage in their battle to remain in the top flight.

Meanwhile, Excelsior are hoping to steer well clear of the drop zone this term after finishing just four points above the bottom three in the 2022-23 season.

The signs are certainly positive for Excelsior, who began the campaign with an entertaining 3-2 win over NEC, before playing out consecutive draws.

After producing a battling display to hold Ajax to a 2-2 draw, Marinus Dijkhuizen's charges replicated that result in their home meeting with Fortuna Sittard last weekend.

Despite taking the lead on two occasions through Nikolas Agrafiotis and Oscar Uddenas, Excelsior had to settle for a share of the spoils against Fortuna Sittarrd.

Excelsior have won their last three competitive meetings with Heracles, and they will look to draw upon that experience when they make the trip to the Erve Asito on Saturday.

Heracles Eredivisie form:

L

W

SBV Excelsior Eredivisie form:

W

D

D

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Team News

Jizz Hornkamp, Jannes Wieckhoff and Nikolai Laursen will miss out for the hosts due to their respective injury issues.

After making his senior debut as a half-time substitute last weekend, 18-year-old defender Stijn Bultman is in contention to start on Saturday.

Summer signing Mario Engels, who scored in the league opener against Ajax, will continue to lead the line for Heracles.

As for Excelsior, Lennard Hartjes and Kik Pierie are ruled out with injury issues, while there are also doubts over the availability of Adrian Fein and Jacky Donko.

Oscar could be presented with a starting berth after coming off the bench to score his first goal for the club in the draw with Fortuna Sittard.

Troy Parrott and Cisse Sandra, who are on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Club Brugge respectively, both made their Excelsior debuts as substitutes last weekend, and the pair may have to settle for a role off the bench once again.

Heracles possible starting lineup:

Brouwer; Bakboord, Bultman, Hoogma, Willems; De Keersmaecker, Bruns; Nankishi, Ouahim, Hansson; Engels

SBV Excelsior possible starting lineup:

Van Gassell; Horemans, Widell, Seymor, Zagre; Naujoks, El Yaakoubi, Baas; Uddenas, Sanches Fernandes, Agrafiotis

We say: Heracles 1-2 SBV Excelsior

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