Eredivisie | Gameweek 16

Dec 15, 2024 at 1.30pm UK

De Grolsch Veste

FC Twentevs.Groningen

Match preview

Seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since early November, Twente travelled to the Philips Stadion to take on PSV Eindhoven on Friday and got off to a dream start when Sem Steijn put them ahead.

What followed was a relentless barrage of goals from the defending champions as Noa Lang, Malik Tillman, Ismael Saibari (twice), Richard Ledezma and Ricardo Pepi turned the game on its head.

Still licking their wounds from an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Eredivisie champions, Joseph Oosting's men were held to a hard-fought goalless stalemate by Greek giants Olympiacos in their sixth Europa League group match.

The Tukkers, who are currently in need of a boost both domestically and on the continent, will now face an opponent without a win in 10 consecutive editions of this fixture across all competitions dating back to 2018.

Despite their poor start to the season, Sunday's visitors are fortunate to sit seven points clear of second-placed FC Utrecht, but there is little margin for error in the race for automatic European qualification.

Unbeaten in their first five games back in the Dutch top flight after a one-year absence, Groningen made a fairytale start to the season but have since crashed back to earth.

Their first league defeat of the season was soon followed by five more in quick succession, although Dick Lukkien's men have now taken seven points from their last four games after Sunday's goalless stalemate with PEC Zwolle at Euroborg.

Trots van het Noorden enjoyed the better of the possession for much of the game, but were unable to find the breakthrough in a game that saw few clear-cut chances.

Nevertheless, a second clean sheet on the bounce is more than a welcome positive for Groningen, who had conceded a whopping 11 goals in their previous three Eredivisie games.

Sunday's visitors currently sit 13th in the standings and have conceded the third-fewest goals in the league, which represents their biggest area of improvement if they are to stave off relegation.

Recent Performance

FC Twente Eredivisie form:WWDWWL

FC Twente form (all competitions):DWLWLD

Groningen Eredivisie form:LLWLWD

Team News

Younes Taha is still out with a shin injury, but the midfielder is inching closer to a return to action after not playing since September.

With five direct contributions - three goals and two assists - to his side's last six goals, Sem Steijn will once again be relied upon to provide the goods in attack.

Youri Regeer and Mees Hilgers were both forced off with first-half injuries against Olympiacos on Thursday, making their availability for this weekend's match doubtful.

Dutchman Tika de Jonge will miss his sixth consecutive game with a niggling injury and is currently Groningen's only guaranteed absentee for Sunday's game.

Twenty-one-year-old Luciano Valente will need to keep his discipline in check after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season last time out, leaving him one caution away from a ban.

Possible starting lineup:

FC Twente possible starting lineup:

Tyton; Salah-Eddine, Bruns, Lagerbielke, Van Rooy; Sadilek, Steijn, Regeer; Vlap, Lammers, Van Bergen

Groningen possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Bacuna, Rente, Blokzijl, Peersman; Resink, Hove, Valente, Schreuders; Van Bergen, Oosting