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

The hosts are still on for their best league finish in over a decade, whilst Twente are looking to make it three wins in a row in order to continue their impressive form.

Match preview

RKC Waalwijk have been a side who have struggled with inconsistency as this campaign draws to a close, with the club having now lost three of their last four matches.

Last time out saw Joseph Oosting's men lose at FC Utrecht, with second-half goals from Anastasios Douvikas and Zakaria Labyad deciding the contest at Stadion Galgenwaard.

Waalwijk are still on for a successful season despite their efforts to pick up points proving rather fruitless in recent matches - they are currently ninth in the Eredivisie standings, with their last top-half finish in the Dutch first tier coming back in 2012.

Home form has been absolutely imperative to Oosting's charges this term, with 30 of their 41 Eredivisie points coming at the Mandemakers Stadion - supporters will be hoping they can reach double digits in home victories on Sunday.

Michiel Kramer is doing the goalscoring business for Waalwijk despite reaching the twilight of his career, with the 34-year-old's 12 league goals this season as good as he has managed in a term since he played for Feyenoord in the 2015-16 campaign.

FC Twente extended their unbeaten run to three matches last Friday with a resounding home success against NEC Nijmegen - one which represents their biggest of the season.

A Virgil Misidjan brace sandwiched between strikes from Vaclav Cerny and Ricky van Wolfswinkel secured a comfortable 4-0 victory, with the hosts at De Grolsch Veste managing 30 shots over the course of a dominant evening in Enschede.

Ron Jans's side are sitting comfortably inside the Europa Conference League playoff zone in the league standings, lying in fifth - five points ahead of sixth-placed Sparta Rotterdam.

After successive campaigns finishing in the bottom half of the Dutch top flight in 2020 and 2021, Twente are guaranteed a shot of earning European football for next term - something supporters are hoping will become a regular occurence.

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form:

L

W

L

L

W

L

FC Twente Eredivisie form:

D

W

L

D

W

W

Team News

Waalwijk boss Oosting is set to make changes to his XI after defeat at Utrecht last time out, with attackers Zakaria Bakkali and Roy Kuijpers pushing for starting berths.

Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth has started just two Eredivisie matches since making the switch from the Emirates in January - the 20-year-old could be given a rare chance from the off in this one.

Twente will travel to Mandemakers Stadion without the services of centre-back Robin Propper after the Dutchman collected his 10th caution of the campaign in the win over NEC Nijmegen.

Max Bruns is unlikely to feature on Sunday as he continues to recover from an ankle injury that forced him off during the early stages of the home win over strugglers Cambuur in April.

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Lelieveld, Gaari, Adewoye, Lutonda; Oukili, Anita, Clement, Bakkali, Kuijpers; Kramer

FC Twente possible starting lineup:

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

We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-1 FC Twente

Waalwijk have little to play for in the final two matches of this season but will be a tough game for Twente if they continue to perform well at the Mandemakers Stadion.

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