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

On matchday 24 of the 2025-26 Eredivisie season, FC Twente hosts Groningen at De Grolsch Veste, with the focus on achieving European qualifying.

Both clubs could use maximum points coming into this weekend’s game, where they will try to get back on track as the season nears its finale.

With only four league defeats so far—the third-fewest in the division behind PSV Eindhoven (two) and Ajax (three)—Twente’s season has been marred by a string of draws. Sunday’s draw with Telstar was their 11th this season, the joint-most in the Eredivisie.

John van den Brom’s team hoped to leave the BUKO Stadion with maximum points while facing a relegation battle. Marko Pjaca’s late equaliser secured a draw, leaving them relieved.

The Tukkers are now seventh in the table, four points behind Heerenveen in eighth, although having the potential to move up to fifth place with a victory.

Twente have already gone 13 league games without a defeat and will try to extend their unbeaten streak against this weekend’s opponents, who have lost the last 13 editions of this matchup across all competitions.

With clean sheets in six of their past seven home games, Sunday’s hosts have proven difficult to beat in front of their fans. Despite a 5-0 thumping of Heerenveen in their previous match at De Grolsch Veste, their attacking production has frequently left room for improvement.

Groningen built together a great festive run, picking up 11 points from five league games either side of the new year, and were comfortably on track for a top-eight finish, but a tough patch over the last month has placed their continental dreams in jeopardy.

In Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Utrecht, Dick Lukkien’s side went home empty-handed for the fourth straight league game, the first time this has happened since November 2024.

Groningen, like their recent 2-1 losses to Fortuna Sittard and PSV, relinquished a one-game lead for the third time in four games, raising the stakes if they break the tie in Sunday’s forthcoming match.

Prior to their recent dip, Groningen had conceded the fewest goals in the Eredivisie (22) and had the most clean sheets (7). Sunday’s visitors will need to recapture that defensive solidity, which has frequently compensated for an attack that has scored only 30 goals—the joint-lowest total among the division’s top 11 sides.

Taylor Booth, who has been injured since November’s match against Groningen, will not be available for Sunday’s match.

Mees Hilgers is expected to miss the season due to an ACL injury, while Ricky van Wolfswinkel has a groin issue.

Robin Propper was injured after only 28 minutes against Telstar and is now a doubt for the hosts.

Tika de Jong, 22, has missed the last four games for Groningen and will be absent again this weekend, along with Mats Seuntjens (groin).

Younes Taha, a midfielder, has scored in his last two appearances, tripling his season goal tally.

FC Twente’s likely starting lineup:

Unnerstall: Van Rooij, Lemkin, Nijstad, Rots; Zerrouki, Van den Belt; Rots, Hlynsson, Orjasaeter; Lammers.

Groningen’s likely starting lineup:

Vaessen, Peersman, Janse, Blokzijl, Rente; Resink, Land; Schreuders, Taha, Van der Werff; Van Bergen.

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