- FC Groningen have won two and lost two of their last five Eredivisie games (D1).
- Heracles Almelo are on a run of five straight Eredivisie defeats.
Groningen to grind out a win
FC Groningen should have too much quality and momentum to slip up at the home of an out-of-sorts Heracles Almelo, who are sliding ever closer to relegation after another bad result last weekend. Sunday’s hosts are on a five-match losing streak in the Eredivisie, which includes a 0-2 home defeat against FC Volendam and a 1-0 loss at PEC Zwolle, setting the scene for our Heracles Almelo vs FC Groningen prediction.
The 2025-2026 season has been a tumultuous one for Heracles, who brought in experienced Dutch coach Ernest Faber in December 2025 with the task of keeping the club up. However, Faber has struggled to get a grip on the team, which could slide to the second tier of Dutch football after a 3-0 defeat at Telstar last time out.
Groningen’s recent results are a mixed bag, but Dick Lukkien’s team are a force to be reckoned with at this level after the tactically astute coach took over in July 2023. His pressing, high-tempo philosophy has produced a side that are stable in the Eredivisie mid-table after 33 games and 45 points, 26 more than Heracles who are rooted to the bottom in 18th with just 19 points, supporting the latest Heracles Almelo vs FC Groningen prediction.
Pressure on Heracles’ transition
FC Groningen’s 2-1 home win over NEC Nijmegen last weekend followed a 3-1 defeat away at Feyenoord and a 3-2 home loss to Excelsior. So, the Chequered Ones are not in the habit of winning every game, but they do have a solid away record, taking six wins from 16 attempts and scoring 20 goals. This Heracles Almelo vs FC Groningen preview highlights that both teams have their vulnerabilities, but Groningen’s tactical edge could prove decisive on Sunday.
Groningen have won and lost one of their last two away games, and can get the three points again on Sunday if they can press Heracles into mistakes and disrupt their attempts to transition through the thirds of the field. Lukkien’s side will press at full throttle to force turnovers and hit opponents on the break in numbers at a high tempo.
Heracles will set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape that gives them a platform to get numbers behind the ball and play at a low-to-medium tempo. Luka Kulenovic, who is the top scorer for Heracles with five goals in 29 Eredivisie appearances, will be the outlet for their vertical attacking transitions, but he doesn’t get as much service as Groningen’s number nine, Thom van Bergen, who has nine goals in 33 appearances.
Back the visitors to take the points
Heracles’ home form has been poor all season, winning four and losing nine of their 16 matches at home, while they have lost their last two at home, failing to score a goal in both. We’re taking the odds on offer for an away win here as the correct play, guided by the best Heracles Almelo vs FC Groningen betting tips.
A high-scoring game is likely given the contrasting styles of these clubs, but we’re going for Over 2.5 goals at 1.3 and both teams to score at 1.39. Both sides have enough quality in their ranks to register, but Groningen’s pressing and structure in possession should see them leave Almelo with all three points in an open, attacking contest - one more reason to favor the most likely Heracles Almelo vs FC Groningen prediction.
