Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria

Preview: FC Twente vs. NEC - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 May 2023, 16:49
European challengers FC Twente and NEC Nijmegen face off at De Grolsch Veste on Friday night in the Eredivisie.

The two clubs could end up facing each other in the Europa Conference League playoffs, but the hosts will still have ambitions of finishing higher.

Match preview

Despite the chances being slim, Twente still carry hopes of leapfrogging AZ Alkmaar into fourth place in the Eredivisie.

The Enschede-club currently lie fifth, six points behind AZ, but reaching fourth would absolutely assure them of a Europa Conference League spot, instead of them needing to go through the league's four-team playoff for the final place in Europe.

They will be hoping that the fact AZ have a semi-final double-header coming up in Europe will be a distraction for them, and allow them to close the gap.

However, with just three games to go, Twente will surely need to win all three to even have a remote chance, and facing Ajax on the final day looks a daunting prospect.

Ron Jans's side do enter the final sprint of the season in great form though, losing just one of their last eight games, picking up 15 points.

Nijmegen are much lower down the table with a far inferior points tally, but have just as good a chance of getting into Europe as their upcoming opponents.

With three of the four playoff spots for Europe already assured, there is a four-way battle for the final place.

Nijmegen, as well as Waalwijk, Heerenveen and Go Ahead Eagles are all separated by just four points going into the last three games, and only one of them will reach the playoffs.

This fixture represents a difficult challenge for NEC, but all of their rivals have tough games to come on paper too.

Rogier Meijer's men will be glad they are playing away from the Goffertstadion though given recent form, as they have lost three in a row at home, conceding 11.

It is a much different story on the road though, as NEC have taken 10 points from their previous five away matches, conceding only twice, against Ajax and Waalwijk.

There is a long way to go before they can start planning their trips around Europe, but it would be a fantastic achievement in just their second season back in the top flight.

Not since 2008 have Nijmegen competed in a European competition, and it would be just a fourth ever qualification in the club's history.

FC Twente Eredivisie form:

W

D

W

L

D

W

NEC Eredivisie form:

W

L

D

L

W

L

Team News

Dutch Under-21 international Anass Salah-Eddine was absent from the Twente squad last weekend in the win over Emmen, having spent the three previous games on the bench.

Max Bruns is their other injury absentee, as the 20-year-old has missed the last three matches with an ankle problem.

Nijmegen boss Meijer could be able to welcome back some members of his squad soon after extended periods out.

Calvin Verdonk is one important player who could return having not featured in almost three months, while goalkeeper Robin Roefs is also due to make a comeback soon.

However, Mathias de Wolf remains on the long-term absentee list with a muscle injury.

FC Twente possible starting lineup:

Unnerstall; Brenet, Pleguezuelo, Propper, Smal; Zerrouki, Vlap, Sadilek; Cerny, Ugalde, Misidjan

NEC possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Van Rooij, Marquez, Sandler, El Karouani; Schone, Proper, Tannane; Tavsan, Dimata, Mattsson

We say: FC Twente 2-2 NEC

Twente have been strong at home and Nijmegen are tough to beat on the road, so there is little to separate the sides despite the gap in league position.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday, Ukraine will lock horns with Belgium in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff clash in Murcia. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands welcome UEFA Nations League holders Spain to De Kuip in Rotterdam for the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen has labelled it "an honour" to be linked with a move to a club of the stature of Real Madrid. 19 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have been prone to being physically outmatched by their opponents at times this season and additions to address that would be welcomed, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk At the ripe old age of 40, Cristiano Ronaldo is in contention to make his 218th international appearance for Portugal when they take on Denmark at Parken Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has named his 26-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Denmark at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark welcome Portugal to Parken Stadium in Copenhagen for the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has dropped a hint on where Virgil van Dijk could move if he departs Liverpool this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey will welcome Hungary to Istanbul for Thursday's first leg of their UEFA Nations League playoffs against Hungary. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk France head coach Didier Deschamps will have to cope without Marcus Thuram when Les Bleus travel to Stadion Poljud to face Croatia in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A repeat of the 2018 World Cup final takes centre stage at Stadion Poljud in Split on Thursday night as Croatia play host to France in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have confirmed that midfielder Marc Casado will miss the next two months after suffering a knee injury in the 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The Republic of Ireland travel to Stadion Hristo Botev on Thursday to take on Bulgaria in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League clash, and the visitors will hope to avoid relegation to League C. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool could be set for a summer of upheaval as three of their key players' futures remain up in the air. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League up for grabs, Slovakia will host Slovenia in the first leg of their playoff tie on Thursday at Stadion Tehelne pole. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany hopes that Phil Foden can play himself back into form under new England head coach Thomas Tuchel having previously endured 'poor stints' at international level. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Omari Kellyman has confirmed his season is over following his latest injury setback. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in four Bundesliga stars ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women have been left with a mountain to climb in the Women's Champions League owing to a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he expects to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jeremie Frimpong has fuelled speculation over a summer move to Liverpool by greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a scouse accent. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has seen three players withdraw from his squad due to injury ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has named his 24-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Spain at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA Nations League holders Spain travel to De Kuip in Rotterdam to face the Netherlands in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes.