Preview: Go Ahead Eagles vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

Go Ahead Eagles will attempt to claim a second straight victory when they welcome Heerenveen to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking for a positive response after suffering their first defeat of the season last weekend.

Match preview

Competing in the top flight for a third consecutive season, Go Ahead Eagles would have been disappointed to begin their campaign with a heavy 5-1 away defeat to AZ Alkmaar.

However, Rene Hake's side quickly picked themselves up to bounce back with a sizable victory of their own in their most recent outing against Volendam.

Bas Kuipers, Oliver Edvardsen and Willum Willumsson all found the net in the first period, before Bobby Adekanye was given his marching orders on the stroke of half time.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Go Ahead Eagles conceded just one goal after the break, before a commanding display was wrapped up by Philippe Rommens.

After scoring four goals in an Eredivisie game for the first time since April 2022, Go Ahead Eagles have had two weeks to prepare for Saturday's contest, and Hake's well-rested side will be hoping to begin their home campaign with back-to-back victories.

Meanwhile, Heerenveen began the season with two encouraging results, beating RKC Waalwijk 3-1 before claiming a 2-0 victory over Utrecht.

However, their winning start was brought to an abrupt halt in Sunday's home encounter with Sparta Rotterdam, as their opponents established a three-goal lead by the 62nd minute.

Despite pulling a goal back through Pawe Bochniewicz, Heerenveen were unable to mount a late fightback, ensuring that they fell to their first defeat of the season.

Having avoided defeat in their previous three head-to-head meetings with Go Ahead Eagles, Heerenveen will be hopeful of bouncing back from last weekend's disappointment.

After picking up maximum points in their previous away match against Utrecht, Saturday's visitors have the chance to claim consecutive away league victories for the first time since December.

Team News

Go Ahead Eagles are expected to be without the services of striker Finn Stokkers, who has been sidelined since April.

After being shown a straight red card against Volendam, Adekanye will serve the first game of his two-match suspension.

With Adekanye unavailable, summer signing Jakob Breum could return to the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench last weekend.

As for the visitors, Sven van Beek is closing in on a return to full fitness, but Friday's contest may come too soon for the defender.

Luuk Brouwers could be brought into the side for Thom Haye, who is suspended after being sent off in the defeat to Sparta Rotterdam.

Summer addition Ion Nicolaescu will continue to lead the line, and he will be looking to add to the goal that he scored in Heerenveen's opening-day win over Waalwijk.

Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:

De Lange; Deijl , Amofa, Kramer, Kuipers; Linthorst, Rommens; Breum, Willumsson, O. Edvardsen; V. Edvardsen

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Noppert; Ali, Van Ottele, Bochniewicz, Kohlert; Brouwers, Tahiri; Nunnely, Olsson, Sahraoui; Nicolaescu

We say: Go Ahead Eagles 1-2 Heerenveen

After suffering their first loss of the season last weekend, we think that Heerenveen will bounce back to claim all three points, having avoided defeat in their last four meetings with Go Ahead Eagles.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.