NEC Nijmegen vs Heracles
Eredivisie
Saturday
3rd February 2024
Stadion De Goffert
The most comprehensive preview, detailed analysis and reliable predictions of the Eredivisie fixture between NEC Nijmegen and Heracles.
NEC Nijmegen vs Heracles: Preview
NEC Nijmegen form analysis
Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie started this run of fixtures in impressive goalscoring form, sweeping aside PEC Zwolle 3-1 away from home courtesy of strikes from Tavsan and Japanese winger Ogawa, along with a late third through Baas. They carried this attacking threat into putting four past struggling Fortuna Sittard next game, Mattsson’s brace complementing Ogawa and Hansen goals to continue momentum. NEC then came from two goals down to claim a spirited 2-2 draw away to Feyenoord.
Though the goals dried up during a tight 1-0 home win over Twente next time out, Verdonk netting what proved the winner, defensive organization shone through to grind out three points. However, familiar fragility resurfaced during an entertaining 2-2 draw away to Go Ahead Eagles last game. Despite going ahead through Mattsson’s penalty and Chery strike, NEC conceded twice in the last 15 minutes to drop points late on again. So while Rogier Meijer’s attack possesses real vibrance and threat through the likes of Mattsson, shoring up defensive lapses remains vital if NEC wish to climb further upon the table.
Heracles form analysis
Heracles started this run of games with a poor 2-0 home loss to relegation battlers Vitesse, failing to recover after conceding to De Regt early before Boutrah sealed defeat late on. Their defensive issues persisted during a humbling 4-0 thrashing away to Feyenoord next, ruthlessly torn apart by the in-form Stengs and further goals from Geertruida and Timber once the game was already lost. Heracles stopped the rot by scraping past struggling RKC Waalwijk 2-1 in their next match, winning the game through Engels shortly after equalizing despite falling behind early.
But familiar problems resurfaced as they failed to build on this momentum despite Hornkamp’s equalizer, drawing a tightly contested game 1-1 at home to Volendam. Their defensive vulnerabilities remained during a thrilling yet one sided 4-2 loss away to Ajax in their last match – twice rallying either side of halftime through Hornkamp and Engels but comprehensively outgunned after going ahead early. So while Heracles have shown sporadic goal threat, the manager must address persistent defensive issues and improve concentration levels if they are to pull through relegation.
