Heerenveen return to the Abe Lenstra Stadion with a perfect home record, but Robin Veldman has heavily rotated his starting XI, raising questions about continuity. PEC Zwolle are also in disarray, having lost both their matches while conceding far too many shots, and they head in…
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Sign inHeerenveen host PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie Regular Season - 3 at the Abe Lenstra Stadion in Heerenveen on August 22, 2026. Both sides arrive with contrasting starts to the campaign, with the hosts seeking to build on a solid opening to the season while the visitors are still searching for their first point.
Heerenveen are sweating on the fitness of several first-team players. Goalkeeper Mats Egbring is a confirmed absentee and will be out of action for several weeks due to injury. Defender Oliver Braude is close to a return, and his availability is being assessed in training. In a positive development for the squad, Maxence Rivera is back after a break and, having played in a friendly earlier in the week, is reportedly ready for 60 to 75 minutes. Levi Smans also featured in that friendly as he continues his recovery from a more serious injury.
For PEC Zwolle, the team news is more about who won't feature. Right-back Sherel Floranus is suspended following a red card in the first round, leaving a gap in the defensive line. Creative midfielder Younes Namli remains a doubt with a knee problem. His availability is being monitored day by day, and a late decision is expected on whether he can feature. These absences force the visitors into at least one, and possibly two, changes from their opening match.
Heerenveen have made a steady, if unspectacular, start to the 2026-27 Eredivisie campaign. Sitting in the top half of the table with four points from their first two matches, they opened with a hard-fought 1-0 victory, which was built on defensive resilience. Their recent head-to-head record against PEC Zwolle provides a psychological edge. In their last meeting at the Abe Lenstra Stadion in February 2026, the Super Frisians staged a stirring comeback, overturning a two-goal deficit to win 4-2. Lasse Nordås and Ringo Meerveld were among the scorers that day, a reminder of the firepower Heerenveen can call upon in front of their own fans.
It has been a difficult beginning to the season for PEC Zwolle, who find themselves in the bottom three with zero points from two matches. Their opening day was a particularly bitter pill to swallow; they fell to a late defeat against an opponent, a match made significantly harder by Floranus's 57th-minute red card. Their second game offered no respite, and they now embark on a third consecutive match looking to avoid defeat. Historically, Zwolle have shown they can trouble Heerenveen, as evidenced by Younes Namli and Tristan Gooijer giving them a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes last February, but sustaining a performance over 90 minutes remains their biggest challenge.
A pivotal area of the pitch will be central midfield, where PEC Zwolle's ability to manage the game will be tested. In their last visit to Heerenveen, they stormed into a commanding early lead but ultimately lost control of the midfield and the match's rhythm, leading to a collapse. With the potential absence of the influential Namli, Zwolle’s remaining midfielders must find a way to retain possession and resist Heerenveen’s pressing. For the hosts, the energy and thrust provided by a returning Maxence Rivera, potentially for an impactful hour, could be decisive in establishing the dominance required to secure another positive result at home.
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