Thursday, March 28, 2024

Prediction: Twente vs Heerenveen

Verdict: Twente win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to finish off the job and punch their Conference League play-off final ticket, Twente will welcome Heerenveen to the De Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon.

Twente

Starting with the hosts, snatching what was a stunning last-gasp winner when they travelled to Heerenveen for their first-leg showdown in midweek, Twente are riding what has been a real wave of momentum of the past month. Now sat in pole position to punch their Conference League play-off final ticket, the mood in Ron Jans’ camp should be at a red-hot high. Signing off their Eredivisie campaign with a famous performance on May 28th as they stormed to a 3-1 romp at home against Dutch giants Ajax, the Reds have now won each of their last five straight meetings against top-flight opposition. Simply looking to finish off the job when they return to he De Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon, Twente have certainly found a major clinical edge in the final third. On a purple patch that is underlined by a 5-0 victory away at Waalwijk last month, Jans’ high-flying squad have notched 17 strikes on their five-match winning run.

Team News

Dealing with an extended ankle injury and not making a single appearance since the start of April, Twente will once again be unable to call upon midfielder Max Burns on Sunday afternoon.

Bagging that stunning last-gasp winner earlier in the week and now finding the net in each of his last three appearances on the spin, 21-year-old Manfred Ugalde will spearhead Jans’ attack here.

Heerenveen

As for the visitors, suffering last-gasp heartbreak at the Abe Lenstra in midweek, Heerenveen will know that they now face a real uphill struggle here. While Kees van Wonderen’s men might have signed off their Eredivisie campaign with a routine 2-0 victory at home against Go Ahead Eagles on May 28th, the Friesland-based outfit have shown some recent inconsistencies. Including a remarkable 4-0 drumming away at Sparta Rotterdam last month, De Superfriezen have recorded just a pair of wins from any of their last seven meetings against top-flight opposition. Hit with that 2-1 loss when they welcomed Twente to town a few days ago, Heerenveen should be concerned by what is a downbeat record against Sunday’s hosts. Mustering just one win from any of their previous seven appearances against their semi-final rivals – a run that stems back to February 2020 – van Wonderen’s side will know that they must plug their leaky defence.

Team News

Both dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Heerenveen will once again be without the duo of Joost van Aken and Sven van Beek on Sunday afternoon.

Despite now drawing a blank in each of his last four straight meetings against Eredivisie opposition, 23-year-old Sydney van Hooijdonk will lead Wonderen’s attack here. Settling for a spot on the bench in midweek, ex-Wolfsburg defender Jeffrey Bruma could make a full return.

Key Factors to Consider

    • When the two sides met for their first-leg meeting at the Abe Lenstra in midweek, Twente claimed a last-gasp 2-1 victory.
    • Sunday’s hosts have now won each of their last five straight meetings against Eredivisie opposition – a run that has seen them score 17 goals.
    • Likewise, Twente have suffered just a single domestic defeat at the De Grolsch Veste this season.
    • Including that first-leg defeat a few days ago, Heerenveen have mustered just two wins from their previous seven showdowns against Eredivisie opposition.
    • Likewise, Sunday’s guests have shipped nine goals in their last three appearances away from the Abe Lenstra.

    Conclusion

    Snatching that stunning last-gasp winner when they travelled to the Abe Lenstra in midweek, Twente are certainly sat in pole position to finish off the job here. Now with a lucrative European ticket at the top of their agenda, Sunday’s hosts are in the midst of what has been a remarkable purple patch. Along with signing off their Eredivisie campaign with a 3-1 romp at home against Ajax on May 28th, Twente are enjoying a five-match winning run. Notching 17 goals on that extended flurry, Jans’ side will also be excited by their eye-catching record against Sunday’s play-off rivals. Including that first-leg 2-1 win earlier in the week, Twente have lost just one of their last seven showdowns against Heerenveen – a run that stems back to February 2020.

    Verdict: Twente win & Both teams to score

    Best Odds: 7/4

    Bookmaker: Olympusbet

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Tom Dunstan


    Formerly of The Independent, Tom has spent the past six years as one of our senior writers and betting experts. Alongside working with numerous publications from across the globe, Tom also graduated from the University of Falmouth in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Media.
    Spending almost the past decade working in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, he has also spent time featuring in sports radio. Tom can be followed on Instagram - @iamtomdunstan

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