In their rescheduled clash from round three of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season, FC Twente and Heerenveen lock horns at De Grolsch Veste on Tuesday evening.
The home side had to make do with a share of the spoils last time out, while their visitors were on the receiving end of a humiliating defeat.
Match preview
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Off the back of a first league defeat of the campaign just before the international break, Twente were unable to deliver an instant response in a 1-1 stalemate against PEC Zwolle when the teams went head-to-head on Saturday.
Despite flying out of the blocks in front of their fans, Joseph Oosting's men found themselves behind within the opening eight minutes to Dylan Vente's strike, after which Sem Steijn restored parity just past the hour mark.
In stark contrast to their previous two outings where they were guilty of throwing away leads, the Tukkers would have been pleased to come from behind this time around, but it is now four games without a victory since a 2-1 win over NEC in their season opener.
As a result, Twente currently occupy 12th place in the Eredivisie table, having picked up five points from a possible 12 this term, four points adrift of the top four, albeit with one game in hand.
Ahead of the start of their Europa League journey later this month against English giants Manchester United, Tuesday's hosts will be keen to get themselves back to winning ways on the domestic front.
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Two weeks on from their 4-0 drubbing of newly promoted Breda, Heerenveen were left red-faced at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday evening courtesy of a 9-1 thrashing by AZ Alkmaar.
After conceding an early Sven Mijnans strike, Robin van Persie's men wasted no time levelling matters through Luuk Brouwers, but what followed was an onslaught led by Troy Parrott, who netted four times, including a second-half hat-trick over an eight-minute span.
Heerenveen's demolition against AZ saw them become just the third team in Eredivisie history and the first since 1966 to concede at least eight goals on more than one occasion within the same calendar year.
With little time to dwell on such a huge setback, De Superfriezen must now pick themselves up against an opposing outfit who they have failed to beat in the last five editions of this fixture.
Tuesday's visitors have also come out on top in just one of their most recent eight games on the road across all competitions and head to Enschede currently on a four-game losing streak away from home.
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Team News
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Czech Republic international Michal Sadilek is still a considerable way off making his return to action having not made an appearance since early June due to a shin injury.
Sem Steijn has racked up four direct goal contributions—three goals and an assist—in his last four matches, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Michel Vlap is a doubt for the home side here through injury and could have to wait a little longer in his search for a first league strike of the campaign.
Amara Conde is a guaranteed absentee for Heerenveen in this one as he prepares to sit out a fifth straight game with an injury he picked up in pre-season.
Albeit in defeat, Luuk Brouwers was on target for the second game running last time out, and the 26-year-old will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
Given his side's collapse against AZ, Robin van Persie could contemplate making some changes at the back after naming the same defensive unit in consecutive outings.
FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Unnerstall; Van Rooy, Hilgers, Bruns, Salah-Eddine; Eiting, Regeer; Rots, Steijn, Van Bergen; Lammers
Heerenveen possible starting lineup:
Van der Hart; Kohlert, Bochniewicz, Kersten, Hall; Al-Saed, Van Ee, Olsson, Sebaoui; Brouwers, Karlsbakk
We say: FC Twente 2-1 Heerenveen
Still licking their wounds from a meltdown against AZ, Heerenveen have it all to do as they look to avoid back-to-back defeats.
While we expect the visitors to pose a sterner test this time around, we can still see Twente coming away with maximum points come the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
