FC Twente vs Ajax – News and Probable Lineups

The key matchup in round 12 of the 2026-27 Eredivisie season features FC Twente against Ajax at De Grolsch Veste.

Both sides enter Sunday’s important match within the top four, with a chance for one to end the weekend at the top of the table.

Match overview

Just four days after achieving their largest-ever league victory with a 9-0 win over SBV Excelsior, Twente had a tougher European challenge against Pafos on Thursday, coming from behind to secure a 3-1 win in their third Conference League match.

As one of three clubs still unbeaten in Europe’s third division competition, Trots van het Oosten are well positioned to reach the knockout rounds of a UEFA tournament for the first time since 2011, continuing to impress in their first complete season under head coach John van den Brom.

Currently enjoying their joint-longest winning streak in over three years, Twente anticipates one of their hardest challenges of the season thus far. Coming through successfully could only amplify the whispers about a potential title bid.

In the last five encounters, the Tukkers have managed to defeat this weekend’s opponents just once, although that victory was in their latest meeting in April, where Ramiz Zerrouki and Bart van Rooy scored to give them a 2-1 triumph.

With only 10 goals conceded—the lowest in the league—a newfound defensive strength has supported Twente’s success to date. Additionally, they have been quick off the mark, scoring first in eight of their last nine league matches.

Ajax were also engaged in Conference League action midweek, dominating Danish side Midtjylland with a 6-1 victory at the MCH Arena, continuing from their previous league fixture against AZ Alkmaar.

This marked their fifth straight victory, as Michel’s squad has quickly recovered from a three-match winless streak surrounding the September/October international break—a phase that threatened to hinder their ambitions for the season.

Ajax are currently the only Eredivisie team to boast a flawless away record, and they will travel to Enschede with the aim of staying close to league leaders Feyenoord, who could establish a five-point lead by the time this match kicks off.

Facing the league’s top scorer, Wout Weghorst, and the leading assist provider, Sondre Orjasaeter, Ajax have a tough task ahead of them in their pursuit of consecutive victories at De Grolsch Veste for the first time since 2021.

Much like their hosts, the visitors have often drawn first blood in recent outings—breaking the deadlock in each of their last five matches—and will aspire to keep up this trend in a fixture where they conceded the opening goal five times in the last six meetings.

Team News

Stav Lemkin (muscle) has not participated for Twente this season and will miss out on Sunday, along with fellow defender Max Bruns.

First-choice goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall remains unavailable, resulting in Joel Drommel likely starting for the ninth consecutive match in goal.

Twenty-year-old Filip Thorvaldsen has faced injury issues during his debut season and is once again out of the squad for the hosts.

Ajax are dealing with a significant injury list, with as many as eight players potentially absent for this weekend’s fixture.

Defensive key players Caio Henrique and Anton Gaaei are missing, while the absence of Sofyan Amrabat and Julian Brandt further limits Ajax’s midfield personnel.

Viktor Tsygankov, Simon Adingra, Kasper Dolberg, and Oliver Valaker Edvardsen are also sidelined, meaning leading scorer Tolu Arokodare is unlikely to rest after his double against Midtjylland.

FC Twente probable starting XI:

Drommel; Van Rooy, Propper, Nijstad, Adelgaard; Zerrouki, Weidmann; Rock, Taha, Orjasaeter; Weghorst

Ajax probable starting XI:

Ter Stegen; Wijndal, Janse, Bouwman, Rosa; Boss, Mokio; Gloukh, Klaassen, Ouazane; Arokodare

With both teams demonstrating strong form, the matchup on Sunday could go in any direction and is quite challenging to predict.

Therefore, we anticipate a draw, with both sides likely to share the points at the final whistle.