Preview: Feyenoord vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

Feyenoord host Heerenveen in the Eredivisie on Wednesday evening as both sides aim to bounce back from disappointing defeats last time out.

Dick Advocaat's men's title aspirations suffered a blow over the weekend, and they will be eager to get back on track in midweek.

Match preview

Twenty-six points from their opening 13 league games has Feyenoord sitting in fourth place in the Dutch top flight, but their recent run of form will have supporters worried.

Just one win in their last seven outings in all competitions has seen De club aan de Maas fall seven points behind league leaders and bitter rivals Ajax, as well as being eliminated from the Europa League group stages.

A 1-0 loss to Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday saw their rivals leapfrog them in the table, and also means that Advocaat's side have failed to score in three of their last four games.

Netherlands international striker Steven Berghuis has been instrumental so far for Feyenoord with his 11 goals and six assists coming in just 18 appearances.

Heerenveen are currently sitting in eighth position in the Eredivisie standings after enjoying a strong start to the new campaign.

Three wins from their first three games of 2020-21 have lifted them comfortably clear of the relegation zone and to within six points of their upcoming opponents, who currently occupy the last European qualification place.

Summer signing Henk Veerman arrived from German outfit St. Pauli for Â£1.35m and has hit the ground running at his new club.

Nine goals and three assists mean he is the joint-fourth deadliest marksmen in Dutch football right now, and De Superfriezen will be looking to the 29-year-old to fire them to their first victory in six matches.

Feyenoord Eredivisie form: WWDDWL Feyenoord form (all competitions): DLDLWL

Heerenveen Eredivisie form: LDDDDL

Team News

Feyenoord are currently enduring a mini injury crisis with several first-team stars suffering from injuries.

Goalkeeper Justin Bijlow (knock), centre-back Sven van Beek (ankle), striker Robert Bozenik (foot) and Christian Conteh (knock) join Joao Carlos Teixeira on the treatment table after the Portuguese attacking midfielder suffered a broken leg against Vitesse.

Key man Berghuis missed the 1-0 defeat at the weekend due to a groin injury but could be fit to feature in this one.

Johnny Jansen has no such problems at Heerenveen with almost a fully fit squad to choose from.

Teenage winger Arjen van der Heide is the only absentee after the 19-year-old picked up a knock, although centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke needs to be careful as the Dutchman is only one yellow card away from a suspension.

Feyenoord possible starting lineup: Marsman; Geertruida, Spajic, Senesi, Malacia; Diemers, Toornstra, Kokcu; Sinisterra, Jorgensen, Linssen

Heerenveen possible starting lineup: Mulder; Floranus, Van Hecke, Dresevic, Woudenberg; Nygren, Kongolo, Veerman, Van Bergen; Veerman, Hajal

We say: Feyenoord 1-0 Heerenveen

Neither side are in great form coming into this one, and it should be a relatively tight affair. There will not be many goals in the game, and Feyenoord could come away with the three points thanks to a piece of magic from Berghuis.

Top betting tip

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