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

FC Twente welcome Heerenveen to the Grolsch Veste Stadium on Sunday, looking to end a barren run of four league games without a victory.

On the other hand, Heerenveen are fresh from a 3-0 victory over Feyenoord on Wednesday, which was their first in the league since November.

Match preview

© Reuters

Twente played out a 0-0 draw against Sparta Rotterdam on Thursday, in a game where they were lucky not to lose as they were saved by Sparta's wastefulness in front of goal on numerous occasions.

Ron Jans's men flew out of the blocks in the early phase of the season, going unbeaten in eight of their first 10 games, but they have since suffered a dip in form.

However, The Tukkers are seventh in the Eredivisie table, four points and two places above Sunday's visitors going into their meeting.

Twente have lost their last five home league games in a row, and they will want to put things right when Heerenveen come visiting.

Heerenveen's triumph over Feyenoord in midweek was their first in 12 league games stretching back to last November, when they beat Sparta 4-1.

Johnny Jansen's men only managed to pick up six of the next available 33 points, setting an unwanted club record in the process.

Such unproductive spells are usually accompanied by a managerial change, but De Superfriezen opted to stick with their coach, who has been at the club since 2012, when he was in charge of the youth team.

He will hope that their most recent win serves as a catalyst to string together a run of results similar to the one they had at the start of the season, where they won five of the first seven games.

FC Twente Eredivisie form: LWLDLD

Heerenveen Eredivisie form: LLDDLW Heerenveen form (all competitions): LDDWLW

Team News

Vaclav Cerny was taken off eight minutes into Twente's loss to Ajax earlier in the month, and he has now been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

The hosts will also be without Jayden Oosterwolde for the game as he continues to battle with a hamstring injury which has kept him out for the past two games.

Johnny Jansen will be tempted to field the same team as he did on Wednesday, and it is not hard to see why considering the result it yielded.

Benjamin Nygren is Heerenveen's joint top scorer this year, and he is expected back in the team for this one after he was dropped for the last game.

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

Heerenveen possible starting lineup: Mulder; Kaib, Bochniewicz, Dresevic, Floranus; Veerman, Halilovic, De Jong; Nygren, Van Bergen, Veerman

We say: FC Twente 1-1 Heerenveen

Buoyed by their win over Feyenoord, Heerenveen will come into this one brimming with confidence against a Twente side that is currently low on it. However, we expect the spoils to be shared in a very even contest.

Top betting tip