Heerenveen v Heracles: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Heerenveen host Heracles in the Eredivisie on Sunday, 5 April 2026 at the Abe Lenstra Stadion, with the hosts targeting the qualification play-offs and the visitors battling to climb out of the relegation places.

Heerenveen sit in the top eight and won 3-0 away in December's reverse fixture. Heracles arrive bottom of the table and under pressure to halt a difficult run.

Form tilts towards the hosts. Heerenveen have taken three wins and a draw from their last four league games. Heracles are winless in four, drawing with Excelsior either side of defeats at AZ and Go Ahead Eagles.

Both sides have absentees. Heerenveen are without Amourrichio Van Axel Dongen and Levi Smans. Heracles miss Mike te Wierik, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, first choice goalkeeper Fabian De Keijzer and forward Luka Kulenović.

Routes to goal could be decisive. Heerenveen have scored 49 league goals, with most from inside the box and just one headed effort, and they have converted three penalties. Heracles have conceded 70 and given away eight spot kicks, so Robin Veldman's side may look to drive into dangerous areas. Jacob Trenskow has 11 league goals, while Joris Overeem leads their supply with seven assists. For Ernest Faber's team, crossing remains a weapon. They deliver accurately from wide and have five headed goals, with Ajdin Hrustic on six assists.

Heerenveen, on 41 points, could strengthen their grip on the play-off places with a win. Heracles, on 19 points, need a result to fuel their survival bid and cut the gap to safety.