Heracles vs NAC Breda – News and Probable Lineups

A vital relegation clash will see Heracles host fellow relegation contenders NAC Breda at the Asito Stadium on Saturday afternoon in round 23 of the 2025-26 Eredivisie campaign.

The home side is currently positioned just above the bottom of the table, heading into a crucial six-pointer against a visitor who is at the very bottom of the standings.

Match overview

Having participated in the Eredivisie for the last three seasons since their promotion from the Eerste Divisie, Heracles appears to be facing the end of their time in the top division as they struggle through a challenging season, with only five wins from 22 league matches.

Three of the five victories earned by Ernest Faber’s squad this season were achieved during a promising stretch in November, where they celebrated three consecutive wins, including a stunning 8-2 victory over PEC Zwolle.

However, the Heraclieden have accumulated only five points during their last nine league outings, with Saturday’s 4-1 defeat against NEC marking a fourth loss in five Eredivisie matches since the new year began.

While the four-point deficit to safety can be closed over the remaining 12 fixtures, their dismal defensive performance brings little hope, as the Almelo team has not kept a clean sheet in their last 19 matches in all competitions.

Still, the hosts can draw confidence from their past encounters with the visitors, as they have claimed victory in eight of the last 12 meetings; however, Heracles did suffer a 4-1 defeat in their latest match against NAC Breda while competing in the KNVB Beker.

After finishing 15th on their return to the Eredivisie last season, Breda narrowly avoided relegation, yet a woeful run of 16 games without a win suggested difficulties were on the horizon.

Carl Hoefkens’s side achieved three wins and three draws in their first 11 league games this season but have failed to record a win in the ensuing 11 matches.

Their latest loss—a 2-0 defeat against SBV Excelsior—was marked by first-half goals from Emil Hansson and Irakli Yegoian, making it their 12th defeat of the season and leaving them on 16 points: one behind Heracles and five away from safety.

Interestingly, considering their league position, it’s surprising that Parel van het Zuiden have conceded the second-fewest goals among teams in the lower half (36); their offensive issues, however, have significantly contributed to their challenges, as they’ve netted only 23 goals, the fewest in the Eredivisie.

The visiting side has not secured a victory away from home in the league this term, making this upcoming fixture an excellent opportunity to break that trend and possibly rejuvenate their survival hopes.

Team News

Jeff Reine-Adelaide has only made one appearance for Heracles since joining as a free agent last summer due to a long-standing knee injury.

Thomas Bruns, Fabian de Keijzer, Mario Engels, and Sem Scheperman (muscle) remain unavailable for the hosts, who are also concerned about the fitness of Alec van Hoorenbeeck.

Van Hoorenbeeck’s streak of 20 consecutive games ended against NEC, and it is uncertain whether the 27-year-old will be available for this weekend’s match.

Rio Hillen was sent off early in Breda’s defeat to Excelsior and will miss Saturday’s match due to suspension.

Fredrik Jensen and Boy Kemper are also dealing with injuries, making them unavailable for the away side.

Heracles probable starting XI:

feather key; Mesik, Cestic, Te Wierik; Van der Kust, Mirani, Hrustic, Benita; Unuvar, Ould Chikh, Zeefuik

NAC Breda probable starting XI:

Bielica; Odoi, Greiml, Valerius; Talvitie, Ballard, Sowah, Candelaria; Nassoh, Brym, Soumano

Given Breda’s struggles in attack, it’s hard to foresee them not finding the back of the net against Heracles, who boasts the league’s weakest defence, allowing over three goals per game on average.

Nevertheless, we anticipate the hosts will secure an essential victory, further complicating their visitors’ relegation challenges.