FC Twente vs Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

FC Twente proceed their propulsion for a Champions League spot erstwhile they invited Sparta Rotterdam to De Grolsch Veste connected Sunday evening.

The distant side, meanwhile, volition caput to Enschede aiming to clasp connected to ninth place, which would springiness them a changeable astatine reaching the Conference League play-offs.

Match preview

For the 2nd lucifer running, Twente were forced to settee for a constituent aft taking the lead, drawing 2-2 with KNVB Beker winners AZ Alkmaar astatine the AFAS Stadion connected Sunday.

Peer Koopmeiners’s last-gasp equaliser denied John van den Brom’s broadside what would person been a 4th triumph successful 5 outings, but they are present unbeaten successful 21 of their past 22 matches dating backmost to a 3-2 decision to Ajax connected October 26.

With NEC and Ajax besides dropping points past clip out, the Tukkers stay conscionable 1 constituent disconnected 3rd spot successful the Eredivisie table and clasp precocious hopes of returning to Europe’s premier nine contention for the archetypal clip since 2010-11.

However, immoderate hopes of overtaking Feyenoord for 2nd are efficaciously over, with Twente trailing De Stadionclub by six points heading into the last 2 games.

Twente look champions PSV connected the last day, truthful thing little than 3 points against Sparta would enactment them nether important unit successful Eindhoven.

Recent past successful this fixture favours Sunday's hosts, who are unbeaten successful the past 13 editions crossed each competitions, including a 5-1 rout successful September’s reverse encounter.

After winning 5 consecutive league games either broadside of the caller year, Sparta Rotterdam ended January 5th successful the table, conscionable 4 points disconnected 2nd spot and seemingly connected people for a archetypal top-four decorativeness since 1985.

Fast guardant to 11 games later, Maurice Steijn’s broadside present hazard missing retired connected Europe, pursuing a mediocre tally of conscionable 1 triumph from their past 11 league matches and collecting lone 10 of a imaginable 33 points.

A 2-2 gully against Go Ahead Eagles past clip retired ended a two-game losing streak for De Kasteelheren, who present person small borderline for mistake if they are to unafraid a top-half decorativeness and support their continental ambitions alive, with Groningen conscionable 1 constituent behind.

Despite caller struggles, Sparta inactive boast the astir cleanable sheets successful this season’s Eredivisie and volition request that antiaircraft solidity to travel to the fore against a broadside who person scored 12 times successful their past six location matches.

In their last distant fixture of the season, Sunday’s visitors present look to extremity a six-game winless tally connected the roadworthy (D2, L4), a agelong successful which they person conceded 15 goals and scored conscionable five.

FC Twente Eredivisie form:

FC Twente signifier (all competitions):

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form:

Team News

Mees Hilgers remains sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament wounded sustained successful November, leaving him arsenic Twente’s lone confirmed absentee this weekend.

However, Lars Unnerstall is simply a uncertainty with a musculus problem, which could spot Przemyslaw Tyton marque lone his 2nd league outing this term.

With 4 goals and 7 assists successful his past 11 appearances for the hosts, Sam Lammers has shaken disconnected a dilatory commencement to the play and is 1 to ticker here.

Tobias Lauritsen recorded a extremity and an assistance for Sparta against Go Ahead Eagles but was forced disconnected precocious with an injury.

While Lauritsen’s engagement connected Sunday is uncertain, Mike Kleijn volition miss retired again with a musculus occupation that has sidelined him for the past 2 matches.

FC Twente imaginable starting lineup:

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

Sparta Rotterdam imaginable starting lineup:

Drommel; Vianello, Quintero, Young, Martes; Santos, Kitolano, Van Crooij; Van Bergen, Lauritsen, Mito

We say: FC Twente 3-1 Sparta Rotterdam

With some teams successful request of maximum points, neither is apt to settee for a draw, which should marque for an entertaining contest.

Sparta person struggled successful caller months, truthful Twente volition backmost themselves to determination person to Europe with a triumph here, and we are tipping the hosts to unafraid a comfy victory.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.