Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Utrechtvs.FC Twente

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 August 2024, 22:24
Two of last season's top-seven sides face off in round four of the Eredivisie as FC Utrecht entertain the challenge of FC Twente at Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday. The home side will be seeking to pick up where they left off and claim back-to-back victories, while the away side go in search of a return to winning ways after having to make do with a point last time out.
Match preview

Utrecht looked set to suffer one of the biggest upsets of the season so far, but a remarkable comeback saw them emerge 2-1 winners over newcomers NAC Breda at the Rat Verlegh Stadion on Saturday.

Buoyed by their 2-1 win over Ajax, Breda took a first-half lead and were on course to secure all three points before Noah Ohio netted twice late on to see Ron Jans's men become just the third side in Eredivisie history to win a game despite trailing heading into second-half stoppage time.

As a result, De Domstedelingen are now up to seven points from a possible nine this term, with two wins recorded from the first three rounds of matches, either side of a 1-1 draw against Heerenveen.

Utrecht's fine start to the season certainly bodes well for their continental aspirations after they came within touching distance of a place in the Conference League playoffs last time out.

With games against Ajax and AZ Alkmaar on the horizon after this weekend's clash against Twente, Sunday's hosts are set to have their European credentials tested over the next couple of weeks, and they will need to be up to the task.

Like Utrecht, Twente were also involved in some late drama in their last league involvement, where they surrendered a lead against Sparta Rotterdam at De Grolsch Veste on August 17.

Having gotten their noses in front through a Sem Steijn penalty, Joseph Oosting's men were within minutes of a second win in as many matches before Tobias Lauritsen restored parity in stoppage time.

Lauritisen's leveller not only saw Twente drop two points, but they still await their first clean sheet of the campaign after four matches and have now been breached in nine straight competitive matches dating back to April.

A tally of four points on the board so far has left Twente currently eighth in the Eredivisie table, although the Enschede-based outfit do have a game in hand after their round-three clash against Heerenveen was postponed.

The Tukkers will now set out to end a three-game winless run against this weekend's opponents, who managed four points from a possible six across both of last season's meetings.

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

FC Twente Eredivisie form:

FC Twente form (all competitions):

Team News

Kevin Gadellaa and Niklas Vesterlund are both guaranteed absentees for Utrecht this weekend as they remain sidelined with knee injuries.

Noah Ohio's double off the bench has certainly earned him some traction over the last few days, but he is expected to be named as a substitute once again.

Latest summer arrival Kolbeinn Finnsson could be handed his debut for the away side, having recently joined from Danish Superliga outfit Lyngby.

Twente's Michal Sadilek has not featured since June due to a shin injury, and the Czech Republic international is still a considerable way off returning to action.

Twenty-two-year-old Sem Steijn has found the back of the net in consecutive games for the away side, making him one to keep an eye on here.

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:

Barkas; El Karouani, Viergever, Van der Hoorn, Horemans; Iqbal, Engwanda; Aaronson, Toornstra, Romeny; Min

FC Twente possible starting lineup:

Unnerstall; Salah-Eddine, Hilgers, Bruns, Kuipers; Eiting, Vlap; Van Bergen, Steijn, Ltaief; Lammers

We say: FC Utrecht 1-0 FC Twente

Only one of the last four editions of this fixture has ended with both teams scoring and another low-scoring affair could be on the cards here.

Previews by email

Top News

23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hatayspor vs. Adana Demirspor (Monday, 5.00pm) The battle of the bottom feeders in the Turkish Super Lig unfolds on Monday as Hatayspor host Adana Demirspor at the Mersin Stadyumu. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica vs. Estoril (Monday, 6.45pm) Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fiorentina vs. Udinese (Monday, 5.30pm) After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk First place in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be at stake on Wednesday as Bahrain and Iraq celebrate Christmas Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park.