Heracles Almelo 0-0 Emmen | International Club Friendly
Date: 17 July 2026, 20:00 local time

Match Report

Two Dutch Eerste Divisie rivals, Heracles Almelo and Emmen, met for a pre-season friendly that ended goalless. Played at Heracles’ home ground, the match was a typical early-summer contest with heavy rotation and a focus on fitness rather than scorelines.

First Half Action

Heracles started brightly, with their new striker signing forcing a sharp save in the 10th minute. Emmen grew into the game and had a goal disallowed for offside just before half-time. The tempo was high, but precision was lacking.

Second Half Changes

Both managers made multiple substitutions at the break, disrupting the rhythm. The best chance of the second half fell to Emmen, whose substitute forward shot wide from a good position in the 70th minute. Heracles pushed for a winner in the final ten minutes but were unable to break through a well-organised Emmen defence.

Key Takeaways

• Defensive solidity: Both backlines looked well-drilled, a positive sign for the upcoming league campaign.
• Need for sharpness: Attackers on both sides lacked match sharpness, with several passes going astray and shots off target.
• Fitness work: The players covered significant ground, indicating that the coaching staff are prioritising physical conditioning.

Conclusion

A 0-0 draw in a friendly is rarely headline news, but Heracles and Emmen will each find useful data from this exercise. Both clubs are expected to step up the intensity in their remaining pre-season fixtures.