Gameweek 14 in the Eredivisie will see Heracles taking on Sparta Rotterdam at Erve Asito in Almelo on Saturday evening.
The hosts are currently in 10th place in the league standings, with 15 points after 13 matches, while the visitors are sixth and three points ahead of their opponents.
Match preview
Heracles were in very poor form leading up to the international break and went into the two-week off period following three league losses on the bounce. They were winless in their last eight in all competitions.
That run of results saw them drop all the way to 13th place, but they came back from the break with a thumping 5-0 win over Almere City, which moved them seven points clear of the drop zone.
Mohamed Sankoh opened the scoring inside the first five minutes of the match and went on to bag a hat-trick for HAFC, while Abednego Nankishi netted a brace, marking the first time the side had scored five in a match in the Eredivisie since November 2019.
Sankoh also etched his name in the history books at just 20 years and 41 days, as he became the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick for Heracles in the Eredivisie.
John Lammers's side have earned the majority of their points at home this season but have only managed one win in their last four while suffering a 6-0 defeat to high-flyers PSV Eindhoven in their most recent game on home soil.
Meanwhile, Sparta Rotterdam will be confident coming into this match as they prepare to face an opponent that have already conceded 32 goals in 13 games this season, which is the most of any side in the top flight.
The visitors, on the other hand, have kept 12 clean sheets in the Eredivisie in 2023, which is their highest tally in a calendar year since 1985, when they recorded 12 as well, though they will have their sights set on beating that record before we head into 2024.
The Castle Lords suffered a 2-1 defeat to Utrecht following the international break, which was their second home loss on the bounce, but they are carrying a three-match unbeaten away record into this one.
Jeroen Rijsdijk's side won the last encounter between these sides 3-1 back in May 2022 and are unbeaten in their last five against this opponent, though the previous four all ended level.
Team News
Nankishi's brace off the bench last week was the perfect return to the squad after a couple of weeks out through injury, and the winger will be hoping for a spot in the starting 11 this time.
Sankoh undoubtedly impressed in a rare start and should have earned himself another go in the front three alongside Emil Hansson and Bryan Limbombe.
Nikolai Laursen (cruciate ligament), Jizz Hornkamp (ankle) and Diego van Oorschot (broken leg) are all ruled out for the foreseeable future due to injury.
Arno Verschueren will be eligible for selection for Sparta, having completed his three-match ban for the straight red he received against RKC Waalwijk at the end of October.
Koki Saito has missed the last eight matches with a hamstring injury and is the only confirmed casualty for the visitors in this match.
Heracles possible starting lineup:
Brouwer; Wieckhoff, Sonnenberg, Bultman, Roosken; De Keersmaecker, Engels, Ouahim; Hansson, Sankoh, Nankishi
Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Olij; Bakari, Vriends, Velthuis, Van der Kust; Kitolano, De Guzman, Metinho; Neghli, Lauritsen, Brym
We say: Heracles 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Following a very poor lead-up to the international break, Heracles got a much-needed victory last time out and will be hoping that was the turning point of the campaign for them. They face a much tougher opponent here, though, and while Sparta should dominate the possession in the match, we feel that these sides will end level at the full-time whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
