Telstar vs Heracles – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday, Telstar will host the already relegated Heracles Almelo at the BUKO Stadion in the penultimate round of the Eredivisie season.

While both teams have faced challenging seasons, the vibe surrounding each club is quite distinct. Telstar is still in the fight for survival, remaining slightly above the relegation zone solely on goal difference.

Match overview

Telstar continues to remain close to the bottom of the Eredivisie table, but there have been signs of resilience emerging in Velsen-Zuid. Anthony Correia’s team is displaying greater attacking ambition in recent matches and comes into this game following a commendable draw away at NEC Nijmegen.

The White Lions have scored nine goals in their last six league matches, and the creative contributions of Jeff Hardeveld have become increasingly vital as the season winds down.

Last Wednesday, Correia’s squad likely delivered their best performance of the season by defeating Sparta Rotterdam 4-1, marking only their seventh Eredivisie win this season, with four of those victories achieved since the year began.

In the previous weekend, a 2-2 draw at NEC allowed Telstar to maintain a six-point lead over 17th-placed NAC Breda, putting them nearly out of danger concerning automatic relegation to the Eerste Divisie. However, being level on points with Volendam means they still need to manage the relegation playoffs to stay in the top tier.

Despite an inconsistent home record, recent improvements at BUKO Stadion have created some breathing room above the drop zone, as Correia’s group has won two of their last three home league fixtures.

Traditionally, this matchup hasn’t been kind to Telstar, who has not achieved a home win against Heracles Almelo in Eredivisie history, and the reverse fixture this season also ended in a draw.

Heracles Almelo arrives at this match grappling with the disappointment of confirmed relegation. This follows last weekend’s defeat to PEC Zwolle, which officially sealed their exit from the Eredivisie, a season marked by defensive issues, disciplinary challenges, and a persistent struggle to earn points on the road.

Statistics reveal the extent of Heracles’ challenges, as they have lost more matches than any other club in the Eredivisie this season and possess one of the league’s weakest away records, having conceded nearly three goals per game on their travels.

The confidence of Ernest Faber’s side has visibly diminished during a streak of four consecutive losses. However, the club aims to bounce back quickly, having secured promotion back to the Eredivisie on their first attempt after being relegated in 2022.

Defensive shortcomings have defined their campaign, with Heracles conceding 80 league goals to date, at least 14 more than PEC Zwolle, which has allowed 66 goals this season.

With relegation already established and little left to fight for, Heracles might approach their remaining matches with less pressure, although their offensive woes remain a significant worry after failing to find the net in their last three outings.

Team News

Telstar has encountered two new injury issues during last weekend’s tough draw against NEC Nijmegen, with midfielder Tyrone Owusu leaving the pitch after 52 minutes and Tyrese Noslin also being substituted in the second half due to a suspected injury.

Nokkvi Thorisson has not participated for Telstar since early April, and the club’s medical staff continue to evaluate the Icelandic winger ahead of the season’s final two matches.

On the other hand, Heracles has been further hampered by the suspensions of Sem Scheperman and Alec Van Hoorenbeeck, taking away additional defensive stability from an already vulnerable back line.

Fabian de Keijzer remains sidelined with a hip injury alongside Mike te Wierik, who is unavailable due to an ankle issue, with De Keijzer not having featured since January.

Telstar probable starting XI:

Koeman; Nwankwo, Koswal, Bakker; Seedorf, Offerhaus, Hatenboer, Hardeveld; Hetli, Brouwer, Van Duijn

Heracles probable starting XI:

Jansink; Coast, Cestic, Mirani, Benita; Zamburek, Ahlstrand; Gilst, Ould-Chikh, Engels; Kulenovic

Despite Telstar’s historical difficulties in this encounter, lacking a home win against Heracles in Eredivisie history, the current form leans heavily towards the hosts as they head into Sunday’s match.

Heracles arrives laden with the disappointment of confirmed relegation after last weekend’s defeat to PEC Zwolle, and given their persistent struggles throughout the season, it would be challenging to see the visitors achieving enough quality to secure a positive outcome at BUKO Stadion.