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FC Utrecht
Eredivisie | Gameweek 12
Nov 8, 2024 at 7pm UK
Stadion Galgenwaard
Heracles Almelo

Utrecht
vs.
Heracles

Preview: FC Utrecht vs. Heracles - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Eredivisie clash between FC Utrecht and Heracles, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

FC Utrecht and Heracles get the ball rolling in round 12 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season with a meeting at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Friday evening.

Having both come away with maximum points from their respective most recent outings, the teams will be full of confidence heading into this one as they look to continue their winning run into the international break.


Match preview

Paxten Aaronson of FC Utrecht celebrates after scoring on October 2, 2024© Imago

Utrecht's start to the season has been nothing short of sensational, and Sunday's emphatic 4-1 demolition of Sparta Rotterdam at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel was arguably their most impressive performance so far.

Ron Jans's men went into the interval with a narrow advantage provided by Victor Jensen's opener before putting the seal on the result thanks to strikes by Miguel Rodriguez, Paxten Aaronson and Mike van der Hoorn in the final 10 minutes.

Prior to that, each of De Domstedelingen's last 10 league victories had come via a one-goal margin, but their goal fest against Sparta last time out suggests more convincing wins could be on the way.

Utrecht have recorded 25 points from their 10 matches so far to sit third in the Eredivisie table, level on points with Ajax and five points adrift of PSV Eindhoven, albeit with a game in hand on the current leaders.

While any talks of a title challenge remain premature, Utrecht will be eyeing a return to European football at the very least, having not featured on the continental scene since the 2011 Europa League.

In the meantime, they will be focused on securing a ninth win in 10 matches across all competitions, either side of a 2-0 defeat to Feyenoord, which remains Utrecht's only defeat this term.

With games against Ajax and PSV to come shortly after the upcoming international break, Friday's hosts will be keen to remain within touching distance of the early title frontrunners as the first third of the campaign comes to an end.

Heracles Almelo's Ruben Roosken in action on July 26, 2024© Imago

Fresh from picking up a first competitive win in over a month, Heracles wasted no time securing consecutive victories as they saw off the threat of newly promoted NAC Breda at the Asito Stadium on Saturday.

Brian De Keersmaecker broke the deadlock nine minutes from half time with a coolly dispatched penalty before doubling his tally just past the hour mark to wrap up the points for Erwin van de Looi's men.

Off the back of conceding a whopping 13 goals in their three league matches in October, the Heraclieden have now kept back-to-back clean sheets, highlighting a remarkable turnaround in defence.

Sitting just three points clear of relegation danger, Heracles will now be looking to pull further away from the drop zone with a win on Friday, but their record in this fixture certainly does not make for good reading.

The away side have been beaten in four of their last five clashes against the hosts, who completed a league double last time out after coming out on top in both of last season's league meetings by a combined score of 4-1.

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

Heracles Eredivisie form:


Team News

Utrecht head coach Ron Jans on August 1, 2024© Imago

Utrecht goalkeeper Kevin Gadellaa is still unavailable for selection due to a long-term knee problem he picked up against Roda earlier this year.

Alonzo Engwanda is also unfit to feature for the home side, while Can Bozdogan's fitness currently hangs in the balance after coming off with an injury scare last time out.

Sem Scheperman and Nikolai Laursen will not play any part for Heracles here as they continue to nurse respective knee problems, with the latter yet to appear since early January.

Sava-Arangel Cestic will also miss this weekend's trip through an ankle problem and is joined on the sidelines by fellow long-term absentee Stijn Bultman.

Brian De Keersmaecker grabbed a double on his return to action for the away side to take his tally to three goals, one more than he managed throughout the entirety of last season.


FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:
Barkas; El Karouani, Viergever, Van der Hoorn, Horemans; Fraulo, Aaronson; Booth, Jensen, Cathline; Min

Heracles possible starting lineup:
De Keijzer; Roosken, Mesik, Mirani, Benita; Van Kaam, De Keersmaecker; Zand, Engels, Podgoreanu; Hornkamp



SM words green background

We say: FC Utrecht 3-1 Heracles

After recording two straight wins away from home, Utrecht will head out in front of their fans on a high and heavily fancied to get the job done.

We fully expect the home side to rise up to expectations and emerge triumphant at the sound of the final whistle.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Data Failed

Who will win Friday's Eredivisie clash between Utrecht and Heracles?

FC Utrecht
Draw
Heracles
FC Utrecht
0.0%
Draw
0.0%
Heracles
0.0%
0
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV1110013792830
2Ajax108112391425
3FC UtrechtUtrecht108111911825
4Feyenoord1164124121222
5FC Twente116322291321
6AZ AlkmaarAZ1152422121017
7Fortuna SittardSittard115241213-117
8Go Ahead Eagles114341519-415
9NAC BredaNAC Breda115061218-615
10NECNijmegen114161610613
11Willem II113351111012
12Heracles113351222-1012
13Sparta RotterdamSparta112541217-511
14Heerenveen113261223-1111
15Groningen112361119-89
16PEC Zwolle112361121-109
17Almere CityAlmere City11137523-186
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk111191028-184


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