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Heracles Almelo
Eredivisie | Gameweek 10
Nov 29, 2020 at 3.45pm UK
Polman Stadion
AZ Alkmaar

Heracles
1 - 2
AZ

Schoofs (75')
Bakis (69'), Quagliata (86')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Koopmeiners (41' pen.), Boadu (44')
De Wit (66')

Preview: Heracles vs. AZ - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Eredivisie clash between Heracles and AZ, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

AZ will be looking to continue their ascent up the Eredivisie table when they take on Heracles at Erve Asito on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors have won three on the spin and remain unbeaten in the Dutch top flight this term, but they are 10 points behind leaders Ajax heading into this weekend's fixtures.

Heracles were beaten by Ajax in their most recent outing and are without a point in their last two matches, leaving them 13th in the division.


Match preview

AZ Alkmaar manager Arne Slot pictured in October 2020© Reuters

Having kicked off their campaign with five draws on the spin, AZ have since defeated RKC Waalwijk, Heerenveen and Emmen in their last three matches.

Arne Slot's side have kept a clean sheet in all three of those victories - a huge improvement on the 12 goals shipped in those first five games.

After finishing second in last season's curtailed campaign, AZ are now looking to continue climbing the division with games against Heracles, Groningen and Twente to come.

However, even accounting for the game in hand they hold over each of the sides above them, AZ have a huge task on their hands in making up the 10-point deficit on top spot.

AZ Alkmaar players look dejected against Real Sociedad on November 5, 2020© Reuters

Whereas AZ are looking up the division, Heracles are looking over their shoulder following a 3-2 loss to VVV-Venlo and a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Ajax.

Frank Wormuth's charges did win their most recent home game 4-1 against Utrecht, though, making it five wins in their last seven top-flight outings at Erve Asito.

Heracles have a four-point buffer on the relegation zone and, given the tight nature of the division, they could climb as high as ninth if results go their way this weekend.

The hosts are winless in their last three encounters with AZ, however, with their most recent meeting at this ground finishing goalless in April.

Heracles Eredivisie form: LLDWLL
Heracles form (all competitions): LDWWLL

AZ Eredivisie form: DDDWWW
AZ form (all competitions): WWLWWD


Team News

AZ's Teun Koopmeiners pictured in November 2019© Reuters

Heracles are having to contend with the loss of suspended midfielder Adrian Szoke and injured pair Jeff Hardeveld and Robin Propper.

Navajo Bakboord is the home side's only other fitness concern for this match.

Despite failing to score in eight league outings this season, Sinan Bakis is expected to lead the line for Heracles.

In terms of the visitors, Jordy Clasie and Ron Vlaar are being monitored ahead of this trip to Almelo.

Jeremy Helmer is definitely out because of a leg injury, but Calvin Stengs and Jesper Karlsson are fit and available.

Heracles possible starting lineup:
Brouwer; Schoofs, Rente, Knoester, Breukers; Bijleveld, Kiomourtzoglou; Water, Vloet, Torre; Bakis

AZ possible starting lineup:
Bizot; Svensson, Hatzidiakos, Martins Indi, Wijndal; Koopmeiners, Midsjo; Stengs, Wit, Karlsson; Gudmundsson


SM words green background

We say: Heracles 0-2 AZ

AZ have found their groove thanks to three successive Eredivisie wins, which has helped lift them into seventh.

The visitors were in Europa League action on Thursday, playing out a stalemate with Real Sociedad, but they should still have enough to pick up all three points at Heracles.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Heracles win with a probability of 39.9%. A win for AZ had a probability of 35.31% and a draw had a probability of 24.8%.

The most likely scoreline for a Heracles win was 2-1 with a probability of 8.67%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (8.32%) and 2-0 (6.22%). The likeliest AZ win was 1-2 (8.08%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.59%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with an 8.1% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Heracles vs AZ

Heracles
19.4%
Draw
19.4%
AZ
61.3%
31
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV1312014593636
2Feyenoord1384131131828
3FC UtrechtUtrecht119112011928
4Ajax1182125111426
5FC Twente1374226121425
6Go Ahead Eagles135351820-218
7AZ AlkmaarAZ125252314917
8Fortuna SittardSittard135261418-417
9NECNijmegen125161910916
10Willem II124351312115
11NAC BredaNAC Breda125071221-915
12Heerenveen134271326-1314
13Heracles133461425-1113
14PEC Zwolle123361422-812
15Groningen133371224-1212
16Sparta RotterdamSparta122551218-611
17Almere CityAlmere City13139630-246
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk1312101233-215


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