PSV's opponent Saturday night, Heracles Almelo, is having a lackluster start to the league. Seven points from eight games is not nearly as impressive as last season, when the Heracles even briefly ranked first. Still, PSV must be careful not to run into the Almelo sword.
Historically strong season
The current fourteenth place in the league table in itself is no disgrace. After all, Heracles' final ranking in the Eredivisie has been above twelfth only three times in the past eleven years. But last season the Almeloërs had a great year. Led by players like Wout Weghorst, Oussama Tannane and Ilias Bel Hassani, the Heracles won their first five matches, even briefly topped the league table and finished in a neat sixth place. For the first time in history, Heracles was even allowed to enter Europe.
Setback
But Tannane already went to AS Saint-Etienne in the winter break, and last summer Weghorst and Bel Hassani also left for AZ. The remaining players could not prevent Heracles from being eliminated from the UEFA Europa League after just one round, and after eight rounds of play the club is back where it usually is: in the right-hand row. Heracles won only one game so far: in front of its own crowd against Willem II. The last two duels, against FC Groningen and arch-rival FC Twente, ended in draws.
Solid collective
So Heracles can no longer rely on the creativity of Tannane and Bel Hassani, and are gambling this year on the strength of the collective. The defense must be watertight, and Robin Pröpper, brother of Davy, must help ensure that. Heracles' defense is in good shape: with only ten goals against, the Almeloërs are doing better than other teams in the right-hand row. The technically strong outfielders Kuwas and Darri have to put Vincent Vermeij in position to score. So far, Heracles has scored seven goals. That is not much, but with a tough defense like Heracles', one goal can be enough.
