Preview:Groningen vs Heracles - prediction, team news, lineups

Groningen will be looking to pick up their second home win of the 2025-26 Eredivisie campaign when they take on Heracles on Friday at Euroborg Stadium.

Meanwhile, the visitors have made a disastrous start to the new campaign, and they should aim to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat.

Match preview

Dick Lukkien has done a terrific job at Groningen since taking charge of the club in 2023, following their relegation in the 2022-23 season.

The Dutch boss instantly guided them to promotion the following year, and in 2024-25, Trots van het Noorden surprised everyone by finishing 13th in the Eredivisie with 39 points.

Under the 53-year-old boss, Euroborg has become a fortress for Groningen, as they picked up eight wins and six draws last season, managing more home victories than any side in the bottom nine.

However, they have suffered two heavy defeats in the 2025-26 campaign away from home against AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven, conceding four goals in both games.

Despite their 4-2 loss against the reigning champions, the visitors can take great pride in their overall performance, which saw them take the game to 1-1 at the break. Relying heavily on their home support, Groningen have managed to pick up one win in between, securing a 2-1 victory against Heerenveen at home in their second game.

De FC earned a 4-1 victory against Heracles in the previous season at their home turf, and they should be confident about finding the net on Friday night, having scored in all three league games so far.

After finishing 14th in the league last season, Heracles lurched in a fresh direction by replacing Erwin van de Looi with Bas Sibum.

It has been a tough ride for the former Roda JC boss, as the Paupers made a dreadful start to the season, losing their opening three games.

The Heraclieden conceded 63 goals in 2024-25, and it appears that their porous defence has not been fixed enough moving into the new campaign.

The 120-year-old historic club in the Netherlands started their 2025-26 campaign with a 4-0 defeat against FC Utrecht, closely followed by a 4-1 loss against NEC Nijmegen and a 2-0 reverse against Ajax.

Groningen Eredivisie form:

W W W

Heracles Eredivisie form:

L L L

Team News

The home side have nearly a clean bill of health, with Noam Emeran being the only major absentee.

The 22-year-old came on as a substitute for the injured Marco Rente in the opening game against AZ, but he has not played the previous two matches due to a hamstring injury. Rente, meanwhile, started the last game against PSV.

Groningen will be relying heavily on Iceland forward Brynjolfur Darri Willumsson, who has already scored three goals this season, including a brace against Heerenveen.

Jeff-Reine Adelaide joined Heracles in the summer transfer window on a free transfer, and he came on as a substitute in the defeat against Utrecht.

However, the 27-year-old attacker has cruelly picked up a knee injury and has now undergone surgery that will keep him out for a few months at least.

Sava-Arangel Cestic has not played a game in over a year due to a broken ankle, and it is unclear when he can return to the side. Left-winger Mario Engels picked up a hamstring injury in August and has not played so far.

Jizz Hornkamp received a red card against Nijmegen and is unavailable for selection, as he is serving the second of a two-game ban on Friday.

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Jurjus; Prins, Peersman, Blokzijl, Rente; Resink, De Jonge; Taha, Schreuders, Van Bergen; Willumsson

Heracles possible starting lineup:

De Keijzer; Van der Kust, Mesik, Mirani, Wieckhoff; Scheperman, Zamburek; Van Gilst, Bruns, Limbomb; Kulenovic

We say: Groningen 2-0 Heracles

Groningen have a better record at home than many teams in this league in the past 12 months, and considering the start Heracles have made this season, Lukkien's side are likely to secure all three points on Friday.

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