Preview:PEC Zwolle vs. Heracles - prediction, team news, lineups

Winless in their opening nine games of the 2021-22 Eredivisie season, PEC Zwolle welcome Heracles to the MAC³PARK Stadion on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to bounce back from a defeat last time out which saw their winless run on the road this term extend further.

Match preview

Off the back of consecutive wins on home turf, Heracles suffered a 3-2 defeat against newly-promoted Go Ahead Eagles at De Adelaarshorst on Saturday.

Luuk Brouwers opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark but Rai Vloet drew Frank Wormuth's men level two minutes shy of the break.

Mats Knoester suffered the agony of putting the ball past his own goalkeeper in the 58th minute after which Brouwers grabbed his second of the game, but Marco Rente restored his side's interest in it shortly afterwards only for Mats Deijl to score a late clincher.

As a result, the Heraclieden are 12th in the Eredivisie table as things stand, two points off the top half having played a game less.

Zwolle were beaten for the third game running following a 3-1 defeat versus PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadion on Saturday.

Art Langeler's men took a shock lead in the third minute through Daishawn Redan and looked set to claim all three points before late goals from Andre Ramalho, Cody Gakpo and Olivier Boscagli turned the game on its head.

The Blauwvingers remain rooted to the foot of the table and are now six points adrift of safety after just nine rounds of matches.

Their next assignment comes against an opposing side who have won three of the last five encounters, including both of last season's league meetings.

Saturday's hosts, who have only scored one goal in their four home games to date, will need to get going in front of goal if results are to improve in the coming weeks.

Team News

Twenty-five-year-old Pelle Clement is yet to fully recuperate from an ankle problem and will play no part in this weekend's contest.

Sai Van Wermeskerken remains sidelined since picking up a knee injury in February, and the Japanese defender is also unavailable for the home side.

Heracles will have to make do with the absence of Kasper Jakobsen, who has not featured in any of the last seven matches due to a knee injury.

Mohamed Amissi made his return to action with a second-half cameo last time out, and the forward is expected to be named on the bench once again.

PEC Zwolle possible starting lineup:

Lamprou; Pabai, Van Polen, Kersten, Nakayama; Saymak, Strieder, Huiberts; Kastaneer, Tedic, Redan

Heracles possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Quagliata, Knoester, Rente, Fadiga; De La Torre, Schoofs, Vloet; Basacikoglu, Burgzorg, Sierhuis

We say: PEC Zwolle 1-2 Heracles

Zwolle have started the season horrendously and Heracles are the latest team to try to take advantage. We expect a close and end-to-end affair with a narrow win for the away side at the end of the 90 minutes.