MX23RW : Monday, February 15 18:09:43| >> :600:245968:245968:
Jan 17, 2021 at 1.30pm UK at Euroborg
GroningenGroningen
2-2
FC TwenteFC Twente
El Messaoudi (47'), Strand Larsen (66')
Schreck (64')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Dumic (12'), van Leeuwen (22')
van Leeuwen (53'), Abass (78')

Preview: Groningen vs. FC Twente - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Eredivisie clash between Groningen and FC Twente, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two sides eager to secure European football will go head to head in the Eredivisie on Sunday, with Groningen hosting FC Twente.

Groningen in sixth are currently three points higher than Twente in seventh but as the visitors have a higher goal difference, they will overtake the home team if they emerge victorious.


Match preview

Ron Jans, now in charge of FC Twente, pictured in September 2019© Reuters

Groningen have lost just one of their last eight league matches and were 3-2 winners over struggling Willem II on Thursday night.

After trailing 2-1 up until the 84th-minute, late goals from Ko Itakura and Mohamed El Hankouri, who struck in the second minute of stoppage time, ensured a dramatic turnaround in Tilburg.

It means that Danny Buijs's side remain just a point behind AZ Alkmaar, who occupy the final Europa League spot - a competition the Green-White Army have not qualified for since 2015.

Groningen's games at the Hitachi Stadion this season have tended to be low-scoring affairs as they have netted the joint-lowest amount of home goals in the division (eight) but conceded the third fewest (six).

However, there have been at least two goals in all of Twente's matches this season, including their 3-1 win over Groningen in the reverse fixture back in September.

The away form of Ron Jans's side is also promising as they have won their last four games on their travels, losing just once as the visiting side all season.

Twente were beaten 3-1 at home by Ajax on Thursday, coming agonisingly close to taking a point off the league leaders before two late goals from Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

It continued the inconsistent form of the Tukkers, who have not lost consecutive league games so far this season but equally have not strung two wins together since the start of November.

They are aiming to qualify for the Europa League for the first time in seven years, having recovered from financial problems that relegated them to the second tier in 2018.

Groningen Eredivisie form: WWWLDW
Groningen form (all competitions): WLWLDW

FC Twente Eredivisie form: WLWLWL


Team News

Patrick Joosten came off with an injury 21 minutes into Groningen's clash with Willem II, with his replacement El Hankouri scoring twice, so the Moroccan should start on Sunday.

Arjen Robben is edging closer to a return, having not featured since late October because of a groin problem, but he is still a couple of weeks away from full fitness.

Twente have confirmed that the almost ever-present Vaclav Cerny will miss the rest of the season after picking up a serious knee injury just eight minutes into the game against Ajax.

There are few other natural right wingers in their squad, meaning Luka Ilic may move out wide with Jesse Bosch coming into central midfield.

Jayden Oosterwolde was also injured on Thursday night so Gijs Smal should get his first start at left-back for over a month.

Groningen possible starting lineup:
Padt; Dankerlui, Itakura, Van Hintum, Gudmundsson; Van Kaam, Matusiwa; Suslov, El Messaoudi, El Hankouri; Larsen

FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Drommel; Ebuehi, Pleguezuelo, Pierie, Smal; Bosch, Roemeratoe, Zerrouki; Ilic, Danilo, Menig


SM words green background

We say: Groningen 1-1 FC Twente

This should be an entertaining game between two well-matched sides, and it is a hard one to call. Groningen are solid at home, but Twente have impressive away form so we think that the points will be shared in this battle for Europe.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:430645:cQx

How you voted: Groningen vs FC Twente

Groningen
32.4%
Draw
32.4%
FC Twente
35.1%
37
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AZ Alkmaar's Albert Guomundsson celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates in October 2020
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Ajax21172268155353
2PSV EindhovenPSV22145351242747
3AZ AlkmaarAZ22127348321643
4Vitesse22133634211342
5Feyenoord21125442202241
6Groningen2111462923637
7FC Twente229673528733
8FC UtrechtUtrecht2171043028231
9Heerenveen227873030029
10Fortuna SittardSittard2284103341-828
11Heracles2284102432-828
12Sparta RotterdamSparta2165103034-423
13PEC Zwolle2241172634-823
14VVV-VenloVVV-Venlo2164113552-1722
15RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk2247111935-1619
16Willem II2134142447-2313
17ADO Den HaagADO Den Haag2127121947-2813
18EmmenEmmen2206161751-346

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