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

Off the back of two defeats in the space of three days, Heerenveen will go in search of a much-needed lift when they welcome Groningen to the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Sunday in the Eredivisie.   While the home side head into this weekend's clash in low spirits, their visitors will be brimming with confidence having mounted a late comeback last time out.

Match preview

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Still feeling the scourge from their humiliating 9-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar, Heerenveen were powerless to stop FC Twente from claiming all three points in Tuesday's encounter between the teams at De Grolsch Veste.   Robin van Persie's men saw their first-half defensive frailties come to the fore once again as they went into the break trailing by two courtesy of Sem Steijn's double 17 minutes apart.   De Superfriezen have now been breached before half time in four of five outings this term, accounting for six of their 13 goals conceded so far—the second-worst defensive record in the division.   Heerenveen will be keen to get themselves back on track this weekend, and their record in this fixture certainly makes for good reading, with only one defeat suffered from the last nine editions dating back to 2019.   Having taken on three of last season's top five already, Sunday's hosts have a relatively favourable run of matches to come and now seek to string together a decent run of results following what has been a shambolic start.  

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Tipped by many as relegation candidates, Groningen have punched significantly above their weight since returning to the Dutch top flight and are loving life back amongst the elite.   Wins over NAC Breda and RKC Waalwijk were followed by stalemates against AZ Alkmaar and Almere City, but Dick Lukkien's men arguably put on their best display last time out, coming from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw against Feyenoord.   Thom van Bergen's own goal and an Igor Paixao strike looked to have buried Groningen before Brynjolfur Willumsson leapt off the bench to score twice in the final 10 minutes and force a share of the spoils.   One of five teams still yet to suffer a league defeat across the opening five rounds of matches, Trots van het Noorden currently occupy fourth place in the Eredivisie table ahead of Sunday's trip up north.   While the away side have managed just one clean sheet this term, only PSV Eindhoven (20) and AZ Alkmaar (16) have found the back of the net on more occasions than their tally of nine strikes so far.

Team News

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Heerenveen's Amara Conde remains out of contention and will miss a sixth game on the bounce due to an injury he picked up in pre-season.   Defender Oliver Braude is a doubt for this weekend's affair after coming off with an injury scare in the final knockings of Tuesday's defeat to FC Twente.   Brynjolfur Willumsson could have hardly picked a better time to open his Groningen account with two well-taken goals last time out, and the Iceland international could be rewarded with a start here.   Leandro Bacuna saw his pedestrian display against Feyenoord end in a needless booking which now leaves him two yellow cards away from incurring a one-game suspension.

Heerenveen possible starting lineup: Van der Hart; Kohlert, Bochniewicz, Kersten, Hall; Olsson, Van Ee; Sebaoui, Brouwers, Trenskow; Nicolaescu

Groningen possible starting lineup: Vaessen; Bacuna, Blokzijl, Peersman, Stam; Schreuders, Resink, Hove, Valente; Postema, Van Bergen

We say: Heerenveen 1-1 Groningen

Groningen have every reason to believe they can claim all three points here, but Heerenveen will surely have other ideas as they look to make home advantage count.   We can see the teams cancelling each other out to settle for a point apiece in the end.

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