De Graafschap and Heracles will be targeting a place in the KNVB Beker quarter-finals when they square off on Thursday night.
At a time when the visitors sit in 15th position in the Eredivisie table, the home side occupy fifth position in the second-tier standings.
Match preview
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Having finished in 14th position in 2023-24, Heracles cannot be too discouraged with their current 15th-placed standing in the top flight.
However, having prevailed in just one of their last 10 matches in the Eredivisie, Erwin van de Looi knows that he has a task on his hands to keep the club outside of the relegation zone.
On a positive note, though, Heracles responded to a 5-2 defeat at Feyenoord before the winter break by earning a 1-1 draw at home to Sparta Rotterdam last time out.
A last-gasp equaliser ensured that they remained above their opponents in the standings, as well as staying within two points of 13th position.
In this competition, Heracles are yet to concede a goal, earning 1-0 victories over Winterwsijk and NEC Nigmegen respectively.
Meanwhile, De Graafschap have stormed through to this stage of the tournament by scoring eight goals in games against TOP Oss and Sparta Nijkerk.
Such results have been required at a time when four defeats have been suffered in their last five fixtures in the Eerste Divisie.
Just two strikes have been netted during those encounters with Jan Vreman seeing his side drop down to fifth position in the table.
While a return to the top flight for the first time since 2018-19 remains the priority, Vreman will recognise their his side have an opportunity to go deep in this competition.
Team News
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Having not played a competitive fixture in 2025, De Graafschap's starting lineup is somewhat of an unknown.
On the back of a late 2-1 defeat at Volendam, Vreman may be prepared to select a similar starting lineup, with Mimoun Mahi and Youssef El Jebli most likely to be introduced into the first XI.
Meanwhile, Justin Hoogma may be rewarded with a rare start in the middle of the backline after his goal during an improved second half against Sparta Rotterdam.
Suf Podgoreanu and Bryan Limbombe are alternatives on the flanks if Van de Looi opts to use wide players, while Thomas Bruns is pushing for an opportunity in central midfield.
De Graafschap possible starting lineup:
Smits; Fortes, Willemsen, Hillen, Schoppema; Najah, Van de Haar, Warmerdam; Marcal, Seuntjens, El Kadiri
Heracles possible starting lineup:
Keijzer; Wieckhoff, Hoogma, Mesik, Milani; Keersmaecker, Scheperman, Bruns; Zand; Engels, Hornkamp
We say: De Graafschap 1-2 Heracles
With both teams out of form, this could prove to be a nervy affair between clubs looking to move closer to a surprise place in the final. Despite their winless streak in the Eredivisie, we feel that Heracles will have enough about them to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
