🏏 Sun, 17 May 2026 14:30 CEST
Heracles Almelo
vs
FC Groningen
4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1
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- Bottom side Heracles (19 points from 31 games) host 9th-placed Groningen (42 points from 32 games). Heracles are in an all-but-confirmed relegation situation, with just five wins, 34 scored and 78 conceded in 31 games, overwhelmingly poor. Closing the six-point gap to 17th-placed NAC Breda (25 points) is realistically difficult.
- In the Matchday 4 meeting, Heracles suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat at Groningen's home. Their last five are L-D-L-L-L, four losses and one draw, and they have managed just one goal in their last four in particular, a serious lack of attacking output. They have suffered crushing defeats to top sides in succession, 0-4 to AZ, 1-4 to Heerenveen and 0-3 to Ajax.
- Groningen have been up and down with W-W-D-L-L over their last five. They won handsomely 3-0 at home over AZ Alkmaar in Matchday 28 and 2-0 away at Telstar in Matchday 29, but are on a losing run with 1-3 to Feyenoord and 2-3 to Excelsior in their last two. With 45 scored and 43 conceded, they are balanced at both ends.
- Heracles are in a league-worst defensive collapse, conceding 78 in 31 games. Conceding an average of 2.5 per game, their defence in particular is not functioning away from home. Meanwhile their attacking output of 34 goals is also poor, making an overhaul at both ends urgent, but with few games left there are no signs of improvement.
- Groningen sit 9th in mid-table, but are level on points with 10th-placed Sparta Rotterdam (42 points from 31 games) and four points behind 8th-placed AZ Alkmaar (46 points from 30 games). A chance at a higher finish remains, but for that, wins in the remaining two games are essential.