Feyenoord will be out to extend their unbeaten streak in the Eredivisie this weekend when they welcome Heracles to Stadion Feijenoord for a matchday 16 encounter on Saturday.
A victory for the hosts will take them into the top two in the league standings overnight with second-placed Utrecht and third-placed Ajax only playing on Sunday afternoon.
Match preview
© Imago
Indeed, Feyenoord have quietly been going about their business very well after a slightly staggered start to the season, now aiming for a sixth consecutive top-flight match without defeat.
Last weekend, De club aan de Maas clinched a late winner to overcome RKC Waalwijk 3-2 on the road, which was their fourth win in five, while the only points dropped over that period was in a 1-1 draw against Fortuna Sittard at the end of last month.
That result marked the 10th time in 15 league games this season that Brian Priske's side scored two or more goals in a match, while the Dane has still only tasted defeat once in the Dutch top flight since taking charge at the start of the campaign.
The sole loss the hosts have suffered this term was against Ajax at this venue at the end of October, though that is also the only league defeat the Pride of the South have conceded on home soil since December last year.
Feyenoord won the previous meeting between these sides 3-0 here last season and have dominated this fixture since 2015, unbeaten in 16 matches against this opponent, while they have outscored them 36-12 across that period.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Heracles have been slipping in the league standings recently, now down to 14th place, two spots below where they were after returning from the November international break.
Heraclieden managed to salvage a draw after being 2-1 down against Fortuna Sittard at home last week, but that result also extended their current winless run in the Eredivisie to four in a row (W0 D2 L2).
Looking further back, Erwin van de Looi's side's only victory since the start of October was against NAC Breda at the start of last month, but that result followed three consecutive defeats in which they conceded four or more goals in each.
On the road, the visitors have not only been struggling to keep out goals, though, as they have also found it hard to find the target themselves, failing to do so in their last three outings, while they have only netted three on their travels all season.
Team News
© Imago
Igor Paixao netted the winner against RKC last weekend and was on target again in midweek against Sparta Prague, taking his tally for the season to nine across all competitions, level with Santiago Gimenez.
Paixao and Gimenez are expected to lead the line again in this match alongside Anis Hadj Moussa, while Quinten Timber and teenage sensation Antoni Milambo are likely to provide the driving force from midfield.
The hosts are expected to be missing four players due to injury, including Jordan Lotomba (leg), Ayase Ueda (hip), Julian Carranza (muscle) and long-term absentee Quilindschy Hartman (knee).
For Heracles, Bosnia and Herzegovina international Luka Kulenovic has been the main contributor to their attack with 12 goals across all competitions, including two in his last three league appearances.
The 25-year-old will almost certainly keep his place in the number 10 role behind Jizz Hornkamp, while Mario Engels and Suf Podgoreanu should get the nod on either flank.
Nikolai Laursen (cruciate ligament), Sava-Arangel Cestic (broken ankle) and Stijn Bultman (knee) have not featured at all for the visitors due to injury this season and will remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Read, Beelen, Hancko, Smal; Milambo, Hwang, Timber; Paixao, Gimenez, Moussa
Heracles possible starting lineup:
De Keijzer; Benita, Mirani, Mesik, Roosken; De Keersmaecker, Zamburek; Podgoreanu, Engels; Kulenovic; Hornkamp
We say: Feyenoord 3-0 Heracles
These two sides have been on opposite paths recently and Feyenoord will be entering this match full of confidence after their commanding victory in the Champions League in midweek.
The hosts are unbeaten in the last 16 matches between these teams spanning almost a decade, and we feel they will add another win to that tally this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
