FC Twentevs.Groningen

Match preview

In search of consecutive victories for the first time since early November, Twente visited the Philips Stadion on Friday to face off against PSV Eindhoven and made a dream start to the contest by taking the lead through Sem Steijn.

However, what followed was a relentless barrage of goals from the defending champions as strikes from Noa Lang, Malik Tillman, Ismael Saibari (two), Richard Ledezma and Ricardo Pepi turned the game on its head emphatically.

Still licking their wounds from an embarrassing defeat to the Eredivisie reigning champions, Joseph Oosting's men just about managed to secure a hard-fought goalless stalemate against Greek outfit Olympiacos in their sixth Europa League group-stage affair.

Currently in need of a lift both domestically and continentally, the Tukkers now entertain the challenge of an opposing outfit without a victory in 10 straight editions of this fixture across all competitions dating back to 2018.

Despite their poor start to proceedings this term, Sunday's visitors can somewhat count themselves lucky to be seven points adrift of second-place FC Utrecht, and there is little margin for error in the race for European qualification heading into their penultimate league assignment of 2024.

Going unbeaten across the opening five matches on their return to the Dutch top flight after a one-year absence, Groningen made a fairytale start to the campaign but have since been sent crashing back down to earth.

A first league defeat of the season was soon followed by an additional five in quick succession, although Dick Lukkien's men boast seven points from their last four matches after a goalless stalemate against PEC Zwolle at Euroborg on Sunday.

Trots van het Noorden were in the ascendancy for large spells of the contest, albeit to no avail, as they were unable to find the all-important breakthrough in a game where clear-cut chances were few and far between.

Nonetheless, a second clean sheet on the bounce is more than a welcome positive for Groningen, especially given the fact they conceded a whopping 11 goals across their three Eredivisie games prior.

Sunday's visitors currently sit 13th in the standings with the third fewest goals scored in the division, which represents their biggest area of improvement going forward if they are to pull away from relegation danger.

FC Twente Eredivisie form:

W

W

D

W

W

L

FC Twente form (all competitions):

D

W

L

W

L

D

Groningen Eredivisie form:

L

L

W

L

W

D

Team News

Still nursing a shin problem, Younes Taha is ruled out for Twente here, but the midfielder is slowly edging closer to a return to action having not featured since September.

With five direct goal contributions—three goals and two assists—to his side's last six goals, Sem Steijn will be heavily relied upon once again to deliver the goods in attack.

Youri Regeer and Mees Hilgers were both forced off with first-half injury scares against Olympiacos on Thursday, making their involvement this weekend doubtful.

Dutchman Tika de Jonge will sit out a sixth straight game through a niggling injury problem and is currently Groningen's only guaranteed absentee for Sunday's affair.

Twenty-one-year-old Luciano Valente will need to keep his discipline in check after receiving his fourth yellow of the season last time out, leaving him just one caution shy of a suspension.

FC Twente possible starting lineup:

Tyton; Salah-Eddine, Bruns, Lagerbielke, Van Rooy; Sadilek, Steijn, Regeer; Vlap, Lammers, Van Bergen

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Bacuna, Rente, Blokzijl, Peersman; Resink, Hove, Valente, Schreuders; Van Bergen, Oosting

We say: FC Twente 2-1 Groningen

Written by

Adepoju Marvellous

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