Heerenveen — Go Ahead Eagles : Match Preview and Prediction for August 30,2025

Heerenveen’s Previous Season Performance

Last season, Heerenveen finished 9th, a position in the Netherlands that typically doesn’t qualify for the Conference League playoffs. However, due to Go Ahead Eagles’ cup victory, the blue-white-reds participated in the playoffs but were emphatically defeated 1-4 by AZ Alkmaar.

Current Season Struggles and Team News

The new season has not started brightly for the hosts, with only 1 point earned from 3 matches, despite a calendar that isn’t particularly catastrophic. A 1-1 draw at home against Volendam in the first round was definitely a loss of points, while subsequent 1-2 defeats to Groningen and Twente are more understandable outcomes. Robin Feldman’s team has yet to find its rhythm this season. The home loss to Twente could have been a clean sheet had Seijk not scored in the dying minutes. For the match against Go Ahead Eagles, Heerenveen will be without the suspended midfielder Luuk Brouwers (sent off in the 97th minute against Twente), as well as injured players Bohniewicz and Smans.

Go Ahead Eagles’ Historic Season

Undoubtedly, last season was the most successful in the club’s history, as the red-yellows miraculously won the KNVB Cup, saving themselves from defeat against AZ in the 99th minute of the final and winning the post-match penalty shootout. Following this success, the 7th-placed Eredivisie team lost its manager – Paul Simonis moved to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for a promotion, and the team is now led by Melvin Boel.

Early Season Form and Squad Updates

Boel started with two 2-2 draws against Ajax at home and Fortuna Sittard away. Subsequently, the “Eagles” surprisingly suffered a 0-3 home defeat to Sparta Rotterdam. However, this setback appears to be an isolated incident, as they created more chances against Rotterdam (2.60 xG vs 1.71) but failed to convert a penalty at a crucial moment in the match and subsequently crumbled. Go Ahead Eagles must learn from these mistakes when facing Heerenveen. The visitors will be without Sattoff and Tengstedt for this match, but overall, the core squad from their sensational cup victory has been retained, instilling confidence that the “Eagles” will gradually find their form.