SBV Excelsior vs Heracles Match Analysis and Prediction

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Heracles, who finished the regular season with three successive defeats, head into the first leg of their Eredivisie playoff with SB V Excelsior.

In sharp contrast, the hosts went through a two-legged tie with Roda JC to stay in the race for a return to the top flight.

Whoever prevails from this two-legged tie will square off against either FC Eindhoven or ADO Den Haag in the final.

Excelsior head into this contest on a considerable high after outlasting Roda, who finished a place above them in the second tier, in extra time of their opening playoff tie.

Remarkably, Marinus Dijkhuizen’s side clung onto a top-six spot despite having picked up just four points from their final six matches in the regular campaign.

In total, the Kralingers Roodzwarten had gone seven matches without success before overcoming Roda on Saturday, and Excelsior will relish their underdog tag heading into this contest.

Heracles had looked relatively safe from any kind of relegation battle heading into May, as they sat eight points clear of 16th place with three matches to play.

However, unthinkable occurences somehow came to happen, Heracles – who then sat 12th spot – suffering three defeats in a row and 17th-placed Sparta Rotterdam winning each of their matches over the same period.

Coincidentally, the pair were left to fight it out on the final day of the season, when Sparta Rotterdam secured a 3-0 lead with 11 minutes left to the game before their opponents scored a late consolation.

Head coach Frank Wormuth now has a major task on his hands to lift his side, who only collected eight points from their closing 10 matches in the top flight.

To add onto that, each of their recent defeats came against teams occupying spots in the bottom half of the standings, conceding seven goals in the process.

SBV Excelsior vs Heracles head to head

The two teams have previously met on 39 occasions across all competitions, where Heracles have claimed 16 victories while Excelsior have won 13, and they have drawn in 10. Excelsior have scored 70 goals and conceded 75. In their last five meetings, Excelsior have won twice, Heracles once with two draws.

Heracles 2-2 Excelsior 26/08/17

Excelsior 2-2 Heracles 18/04/18

Excelsior 0-3 Heracles 22/12/18

Heracles 4-5 Excelsior 12/05/19

Heracles 0-2 Excelsior 16/07/19

SBV Excelsior latest home form

Excelsior have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their eight most recent matches. They drew 2-2 with Roda JC in their last home game in the playoffs. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded 11.

Excelsior 3-0 Helmond Sport 26/03/22

Excelsior 1-4 Telstar 08/04/22

Excelsior 3-3 AZ II 22/04/22

Excelsior 2-2 NAC Breda 06/05/22

Excelsior 2-2 Roda JC 10/05/22

SBV Excelsior latest away form

Excelsior have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their seven most recent matches. They were defeated 3-0 by Amere City on April 1 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded seven.

TOP Oss 1-1 Excelsior 18/03/22

Almere City 3-0 Excelsior 01/04/22

MVV 1-1 Excelsior 15/04/22

VVV 2-2 Excelsior 29/04/22

Roda JC 0-2(E) Excelsior 14/05/22

Heracles latest home form

Heracles have recently been on a poor run of form at home, having failed to win in any of their four most recent matches. Their last home victory came 2-0 over PEC Zwolle on February 26 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded eight.

Heracles 2-0 PEC Zwole 26/02/22

Heracles 0-0 Vitesse 13/03/22

Heracles 1-4 Feyenoord 10/04/22

Heracles 1-1 Twente 30/04/22

Heracles 1-3 Sparta Rotterdam 15/05/22

Heracles latest away form

Heracles have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They were defeated 2-0 by RKC Waalwijk in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded six.

Bochum 2-0 Heracles 25/03/22

Fortuna Sittard 0-2 Heracles 03/04/22

Groningen 0-1 Heracles 24/04/22

Willem II 2-0 Heracles 07/05/22

RKC Waalwijk 2-0 Heracles 11/05/22

SBV Excelsior news

While, Dijkhuizen will likely show preference to naming the same team which started against Roda, he could consider introducing fresh legs after Saturday’s contest went to extra time.

Both goalscorers Couhaib Driouech and Nikolas Agrafiotis were intruduced as subsitutes in that game and will come into contention for a recall.

Heracles news

Head coach Wormuth is likely to make more changes to his Heracles starting XI with Justin Hoogma expected to make a return in defence.

Bilal Basacikolgu could return on one of the flanks, with Samuel Armenteros potentially making his first start after nine substitute appearances since the end of February.

Prediction and Odds

Excelsior will no doubt be full of confidence playing on their own turf, but we cannot disregard the fact that they have not exactly found it easy recording wins of late.

Heracles’ superior quality should prove vital, and they would be more than satisfied if they secure a first-leg advantage.

Odds: 1 2.35 X 2.00 2 2.15