FC Twente is set to host NEC Nijmegen this afternoon at De Grolsch Veste, kicking off at 14:30 local time. The clash marks an important opportunity for Twente as they try to consolidate their position near the top of the Eredivisie, aiming for one of the spots for European competitions.
The match will be overseen by referee Danny Makkelie and fans can catch all the action live on ESPN 3. This match holds significant weight for both teams, especially considering the recent performances leading up to this fixture.
FC Twente is coming off the back of disappointment after their elimination from the Europa League, where they suffered a 5-2 defeat against FK Bodø/Glimt, nullifying their 2-1 aggregate win from the first leg. Despite this setback, Twente managed to secure three points last week with a 2-0 victory over RKC Waalwijk, narrowing their gap to third-placed FC Utrecht to four points, albeit having played one more match.
Meanwhile, NEC Nijmegen finds itself languishing in a disappointing twelfth place, having drawn 2-2 with Almere City the previous week. With the pressure mounting on coach Rogier Meijer to reverse their fortunes, this match presents both a challenge and potential turning point for the club.
The lineups have been announced, showcasing some changes particularly for FC Twente. The team will start with goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, and will feature defenders Van Rooij, Bruns, Lagerbielke, and Kuipers. Midfielders Sadilek, Vlap, and Steijn are joined by forwards Rots, Lammers, and Taylor Booth, who is making his first league start since joining from FC Utrecht.
NEC’s starting lineup counters with goalkeeper Roefs, featuring Pereira, Nuytinck, Verdonk, and Ouwejan on defense. The midfield will be manned by Proper, Hoedemakers, and Van Crooij, supporting forwards Ouaissa, Linssen, and Hansen. Notably, NEC will have to navigate the game without Philippe Sandler, who is sidelined with another injury.
Despite NEC's struggles this season, they have historically been competitive against Twente, making today's match one to watch for fans of both sides. The added pressure on each team from league standings offers extra incentive to perform, especially for Twente, which has ambitions of climbing to the upper tier of the table.
“NEC is back to being at the disappointing twelfth place in the Eredivisie,” recently stated by industry experts at VoetbalPrimeur. Meanwhile, focus falls on whether NEC can shake off their poor performance from the previous week when they surrendered points against Almere City.
Expectations are high as football enthusiasts await to see if FC Twente can extend their winning momentum after recent performances or whether NEC can finally break their streak of disappointing results. Coached by Meijer, NEC is under increased scrutiny as they look to turn things around today.
Kickoff is just around the corner, and both sides will be eager to land those coveted points. What happens at De Grolsch Veste will undoubtedly have rippling effects on both teams' quests for status within the Eredivisie.