Heracles Almelo welcome De Graafschap to the Asito Stadion on Friday, September 4, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 local time. The Eerste Divisie fixture brings together two teams that have experienced sharply contrasting starts to the season. Heracles have collected all 12 available points from their opening four matches, while De Graafschap are still searching for their first victory after taking only one point from the same number of games. The hosts enter the contest at the top of the rankings, whereas the visitors are 19th. Recent results also suggest that goals could play a central role: Heracles have combined prolific scoring with regular concessions, while De Graafschap have struggled to contain their opponents.

Heracles Almelo Recent Form and Key Statistics

Heracles Almelo have made a perfect start to their Eerste Divisie campaign, recording four wins from four. Their sequence began with a 4-3 victory over VVV-Venlo, followed by a 3-2 success against FC Den Bosch. They then defeated Jong FC Utrecht 6-1 before beating FC Eindhoven 3-1 on August 30.

Those results underline the attacking output that has driven their early progress. Heracles are averaging 4.0 goals scored per league match, although their average of 1.8 conceded shows that their matches have not depended on defensive shutouts. Their broader five-match record is equally positive, consisting of five victories, an average of 3.6 goals scored and 1.4 conceded.

The hosts have conceded at least once in each of their last 12 matches, so their flawless league record has been built by consistently outscoring the opposition. That pattern is reinforced by the fact that over 1.5 total goals were recorded in 37 of their previous 40 matches. There was also at least one second-half goal in 37 of those 40 fixtures.

• Four wins from four in the current Eerste Divisie season.
• 16 goals scored across those four league victories.
• Heracles have been ahead at half-time in each of their last four Eerste Divisie matches.
• Both teams scored during the second half in their last four league games.
• They have conceded at least one goal in 12 consecutive matches.

Heracles therefore approach this fixture with momentum and a clear ability to create chances throughout matches. Their recent first-half record gives them a platform to take control early, while the second-half statistics indicate that their games tend to remain active after the interval. However, their long run without a clean sheet leaves De Graafschap with some encouragement despite the visitors’ poor results.

De Graafschap Recent Form and Key Statistics

De Graafschap have experienced a much more difficult opening to the campaign. They started with a 1-1 draw against Helmond Sport but then suffered three consecutive defeats. Those losses came against Jong AZ by a 5-2 scoreline, VVV-Venlo by 2-1 and Almere City by 4-1 on August 29.

The visitors consequently arrive with a league record of no wins, one draw and three defeats. They are averaging 1.3 goals scored and 3.0 goals conceded per Eerste Divisie match. Across their last five games, De Graafschap have registered no victories, one draw and four losses, scoring an average of 1.2 goals while allowing 3.4 per fixture.

Although their defensive numbers are concerning, De Graafschap have found the net in every one of their four league games described in the current campaign. Their matches have also consistently produced multiple goals: over 1.5 total goals were scored in 37 of their previous 40 fixtures, while 36 of those 40 featured at least one goal after half-time. Both teams also scored in the first half of De Graafschap’s last four Eerste Divisie matches.

• No wins in five matches, with one draw and four defeats.
• An average of 3.4 goals conceded across those five games.
• Over 1.5 total goals in 37 of their last 40 matches.
• At least one second-half goal in 36 of their previous 40 fixtures.
• Over 8.5 corners in 19 of their last 20 away league matches.

Corners are another notable feature of De Graafschap’s away fixtures. More than 7.5 corners were taken in each of their last 20 away Eerste Divisie matches, as well as in 21 of their previous 22 away games overall. The higher line of over 8.5 corners was reached in 20 of their last 22 away fixtures and in 19 of their previous 20 league trips.

Heracles Almelo vs De Graafschap Match Analysis

The immediate form comparison strongly favors Heracles Almelo. The home side have won all four league matches and scored at least three goals in each of them, whereas De Graafschap have conceded 11 times across their three consecutive defeats. Heracles have also won their last five matches overall, while the visitors have failed to win during the same five-game sample.

Nevertheless, the hosts’ defensive record prevents this from looking entirely one-sided. Heracles have conceded in 12 straight matches, and every one of their four league victories this season has seen the opposition score. De Graafschap, despite their results, have also scored in each of their opening four league fixtures. The available BTTS assessment assigns a 65% probability to both teams finding the net.

The head-to-head record is balanced across the five meetings summarized in the data, with Heracles recording two wins, De Graafschap taking two victories and one game ending level. Both sides averaged 2.0 goals scored and 2.0 conceded in that sample. Their most recent encounter took place on January 16, 2025, when Heracles won 2-0 away from home.

Goals remain the clearest theme ahead of this Eerste Divisie match preview. Both teams have recorded over 1.5 total goals in 37 of their last 40 matches, while their recent second-half figures point to continued attacking activity after the break. Heracles bring the stronger form and much higher scoring average, but their repeated concessions offer De Graafschap a possible route onto the scoresheet. With the visitors allowing three goals per league match and the hosts averaging four, the available evidence supports an open contest with several scoring opportunities.

Heracles Almelo vs De Graafschap prediction from BetMines: Over 2.5 goals with 65% probability.