FC Twente vs Feyenoord – News and Probable Lineups

FC Twente will welcome Feyenoord to De Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon for a crucial encounter in the Eredivisie, as both teams look to enhance their positions as the season reaches a critical juncture.

The Tukkers are aiming for back-to-back league victories for the first time since October, as they seek to secure a European qualification place, while the Pride of South are keen to increase their lead over the teams chasing them for second place.

Match overview

FC Twente has not faced defeat in the Eredivisie for more than four months, with their last league loss occurring back in October when they fell 3-2 at home to Ajax; they now bring a 14-match unbeaten streak into this weekend’s fixture.

Having only experienced four league defeats this season, fewer than any team aside from PSV Eindhoven with two and Ajax with three, Twente’s progress has been hampered by a high number of draws, with their total of 11 draws being among the highest in the league.

Last weekend, John van den Brom’s team achieved a comeback 2-1 win against FC Groningen, taking advantage of defensive errors after initially going behind to ascend to sixth place in the standings.

Despite not always delivering convincing performances, Twente will aim to maintain their unbeaten streak against opponents who arrive in excellent form and are still firmly in the race for a UEFA Champions League spot.

With five clean sheets in their last seven home matches, the Enschede side has established a reputation for defensive solidity in front of their fans, although Feyenoord, who triumphed in their last visit to De Grolsch Veste, pose a significantly tougher challenge.

Feyenoord currently stands in second place in the Eredivisie with 48 points accrued from 15 wins, three draws, and six losses across 24 matches, maintaining a solid position for Champions League qualification while still trailing leaders PSV.

After three consecutive league wins, Robin van Persie’s team has regained momentum, and mathematically, they still have the potential to catch up to PSV in their quest for a first league title in three years.

Their 2-1 victory against Telstar last weekend extended a sequence that also counts narrow 1-0 victories over FC Utrecht and Go Ahead Eagles, a run that followed a heavy 3-0 loss at PSV earlier this month and showcased their ability to bounce back from challenges.

Under Van Persie, Feyenoord has embarked on a methodical rebuild that has led to promising consistency domestically, despite the pressures of competing in the Europa League and the winter break. However, their elimination from Europe and diminished hopes in the KNVB Beker have sharpened their focus on securing Champions League football through league performance.

Historically, this fixture has favored Feyenoord, who have notched up 54 wins against 29 losses and 39 draws, and their most recent visit to Enschede resulted in a convincing 6-2 win, extending their unbeaten streak in this fixture to four matches.

Team News

Twente will be without Taylor Booth, who has been out of action since their match against Groningen in November, while Mees Hilgers is expected to be unavailable for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel is ruled out due to a groin injury, and Robin Propper remains a doubt after missing last weekend’s win over Groningen because of a knock sustained during the match against Telstar, in which he was substituted after just 28 minutes.

Feyenoord has several players absent, including Shiloh ’t Zand (knee), Thomas Beelen (leg), Gaoussou Diarra (ankle), Malcolm Jeng (leg), Givairo Read (muscle), and Gijs Smal (hip), while Oussama Targhalline was withdrawn after 18 minutes against Go Ahead Eagles in December.

Shaqueel van Persie is still recovering from a knee injury, and Gernot Trauner is also on the road to recovery from an Achilles tendon issue, with a return expected later this season, although he is not yet fit for selection.

Jeremiah St. Juste is in recovery from a head injury sustained against Telstar after he came on as a substitute at half-time for Anel Ahmedhodzic, but was substituted again in the 76th minute and replaced by Jordânia Lotomba.

FC Twente probable starting XI:

Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Lemkin, Nijstad, M. Rots; Zerrouki, Van den Belt, Hlynsson; D. Rots, Orjasaeter, Lammers

Feyenoord probable starting XI:

Wellenreuther; Deijl, Watanabe, Ahmedhodzic, Smal; Hwang, Valente, Moder; Bos, Moussa, Ueda

Twente’s resilience over the past four months highlights how tough they have become to defeat, even if occasional defensive errors have prevented them from turning draws into wins.

Feyenoord is focused on the title challenge but might find that second place is the more realistic objective, and another closely fought match in Enschede could see both teams split the points, complicating their ambitions to catch PSV.