Excelsior vs Heracles Match Analysis and Prediction

4 years ago 900

Excelsior will welcome Heracles to Van Donge & De Roo Stadion in the first leg of their Eredivisie relegation/promotion playoff semifinal tie on Wednesday night with kickoff 19:45.

Excelsior made an impressive campaign in the Eerste Divisie with the side collecting 60 points from 38 matches to finish sixth in the standings. They are now fighting for a promotion to the Eredivisie and they have already knocked out Roda, who finished a fifth on goal difference.

They drew 2-2 in the first leg before Excelsior managed a 2-0 victory in the second leg after 120 minutes. They are now tasked with getting over a top-flight opponent to proceed to the finals.

Excelsior are unbeaten in their last six games, although they have won only one. They also have won their last encounters against Heracles and they be looking to maintain that run on Wednesday.

Meanwhile despite making an inconsistency campaign in the Eredivisie, Heracles looked relatively safe from any kind of a relegation battle as they sat eight points clear of 16^th place with three games remaining to play.

However, at the end of the season Heracles found themselves in the relegation-playoff spot following three consecutive defeats a run that saw Sparta Rotterdan and Fortuna Sittard climbing over them.

They are now fighting for their life through the playoffs, but they will need to end their poor form to salvage their season. Frank Wormuth has a major job on his hands to lift his players, who collected just eight points from their final 10 games in the top flight.

They recent defeats have come against teams occupying positions in the bottom half of the table, conceding seven goals in the process. But the last time they visited Van Donge they claimed a 3-0 victory and will be desperate to replicate the result.

Excelsior vs Heracles head to head

Both sides have met in 27 encounters since 2003 with Heracles claiming 13 victories while Excelsior have claimed eight victories and there have been six draws.