Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Eredivisie clash between Heerenveen and NAC Breda, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Heerenveen will be looking to pick up their first Eredivisie victory of the season at the third time of asking when they welcome newcomers NAC Breda to the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Saturday.
Breda, meanwhile, go in search of an immediate return to winning ways off the back of a second defeat in three matches last time out.
Match preview
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Alongside Ajax and Fortuna Sittard, Heerenveen were one of four teams not in action in round three, having seen their scheduled clash against FC Twente postponed.
Taking charge of only his third game at the helm, Robin van Persie will be hoping that his side’s extra days of rest come in handy as they look to shake off what has been an underwhelming start to the season so far.
De Superfriezen were narrowly beaten by Ajax 1-0 on the opening weekend before they snatched a point from the jaws of defeat in their second involvement against Utrecht on August 17.
A major Achilles heel for Heerenveen this term has been the concession of first-half goals, with both of their goals let in so far coming at different stages before the half-time whistle.
Saturday’s hosts now prepare for the challenge of an opposing outfit who have one eye on exacting revenge for a 2-1 defeat when the sides met in last season’s KNVB Beker round of 16.
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NAC Breda were given a harsh welcome to the top flight as they fell to a 4-1 defeat against fellow newcomers Groningen in round one, but they upset the odds to claim a 2-1 triumph over Ajax in their subsequent involvement.
After taking the lead against Utrecht through Boyd Lucassen last time out, Carl Hoefkens‘s men were well on course to make it back to back victories before a late second-half double from Noah Ohio completed a stunning turnaround.
Three points from as many games is a relatively decent start for a side featuring at this level for the first time since 2019, and Parel van het Zuiden currently sit 13th in the Eredivisie table.
Having shipped 10 goals across their last three away games against Eredivisie opponents, Saturday’s visitors will need to tighten up at the back if they are to avoid coming away empty-handed this weekend.
Heerenveen Eredivisie form:
NAC Breda Eredivisie form:
Team News
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Nineteen-year-old Lars Mol is ineligible to play any part for Breda in this one after receiving his marching orders in the 2-1 defeat to Utrecht.
Fredrik Oldrup Jensen and Leo Sauer both miss out through knocks, while Aime Omgba continues to nurse a muscle problem which has kept him sidelined for the past two months.
Long-term absentee Clint Leemans is also unavailable for the away side, as he is still a considerable way off returning to action from an Achilles tendon injury.
Dutch forward Che Nunnely is ruled for Heerenveen this weekend and will miss a fourth game on the bounce since suffering an injury in pre-season.
Jacob Trenskow could be rewarded with a start for the home side here after coming off the bench to find the back of the net last time out.
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Van der Hart; Hall, Kersten, Bochniewicz, Kohlert; Al-Saed, Van Ee, Olsson, Sebaoui; Brouwers, Karlsbakk
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Valerius, Greimi, Van den Bergh, Kemper; Balard, Janosek; Lucassen, Garbett, Paula; Omarsson
We say: Heerenveen 2-1 NAC Breda
Heerenveen are yet to make an impression so far but this weekend’s game against newly promoted opponents represents a fantastic opportunity to kickstart their league season.
We are backing the home side to emerge victorious and hand Van Persie the first league victory of his managerial career.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.