Preview: Heracles vs. VVV-Venlo - prediction, team news, lineups

VVV-Venlo head into Saturday's fixture with Heracles having dropped into the Eredivisie relegation zone, a consequence of Emmen's remarkable run of form since the turn of the year.

While the home side sit in eighth position in the standings, they remain just four points above 13th-placed PEC Zwolle.

Match preview

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Like each of their relegation rivals, VVV-Venlo would have felt at the start of 2021 that they were in a battle to avoid finishing in 17th position with Emmen seemingly out of the equation.

However, Emmen's return of 18 points from eight games has coincided with Venlo losing every fixture over the same period, leaving the Yellow and Black Army on the brink of relegation.

The two teams are scheduled to meet on the final day of the season, providing Jos Luhukay and his players with the scenario of staying within two points of their nearest rivals over the next three games.

With both teams having a trip to Ajax to come, it may be a case of collecting as many points as possible from the other two fixtures against lesser opposition.

While Venlo have failed to score in 291 minutes, Luhukay will take encouragement from just seven goals being conceded during his first four contests in charge.

Despite prevailing in just one of their last four fixtures, Heracles still remain on course to match their eighth-placed finish in 2019-20.

Conceding two last-gasp goals during a 3-1 defeat at Emmen will do little for their confidence, but Heraclieden made light work of struggling Willem II in the previous game.

Rai Vloet has six goals and two assists from his last seven outings, strengthening the feeling that the 25-year-old may earn a move to a bigger club in the summer.

Nevertheless, with a closing double-header of Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar, Heracles need their star man to continue to produce the goods if they are to avoid dropping into the bottom half of the table.

Team News

Despite the disappointment of the last game, Frank Wormuth will give consideration to sticking with the same Heracles XI.

Ismail Azzaoui is an alternative to Kasper Lunding on the flank, but Ahmed Kutucu will likely remain on the substitutes' bench.

Georgios Giakoumakis is a certain starter for Venlo with the top goalscorer having served his one-match suspension.

Zinedine Machach, Torino Hunte and Anastasios Donis are also in contention for a recall to the starting lineup.

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Meritan Shabani is again expected to miss out through injury.

Heracles possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Fadiga, Rente, Knoester, Quagliata; Schoofs, Vloet, Torre; Jakobsen, Bakis, Burgzorg

VVV-Venlo possible starting lineup:

Kirschbaum; Pachonik, Dekker, Graca, Guwara; Post, Crooij, Donis; Machach, Arias, Hunte

We say: Heracles 2-0 VVV-Venlo

While Venlo have improved defensively in recent games, it has taken something away from their efforts in the final third.

With the visitors struggling to find the right balance, we expect Heracles to record a comfortable win on Saturday.