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

FC Twente head into their fixture with Heracles on Sunday afternoon looking for the win that will keep them in the top three of the Eredivise standings.

Meanwhile, their hosts will be more than satisfied with their own start to the campaign, collecting 11 points from their opening eight contests.

Match preview

When Twente were thrashed in the Europa Conference League playoffs by Fenerbahce, that had the potential to hit their domestic form.

However, five wins from six games have been recorded since their 6-1 aggregate defeat to the Turkish giants, with the solitary setbacks coming at the hands of RKC Waalwijk.

A victory over struggling Ajax preceded that fixture, and they have since posted triumphs and clean sheets against Vitesse, Heerenveen and Fortuna Sittard.

Home encounters with each of Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven are due to be played by November 25, matches that could ultimately define whether Twente last the pace in the race for the top three.

Nevertheless, Joseph Oosting will be keen to take one match at a time, aware that each victory puts pressure on the likes of Ajax who already have a hugely difficult task to gatecrash the top four before the end of the season.

Having secured a return to the Eredivisie, everyone associated with Heracles will be happy with survival as they bid to reestablish themselves in the first tier.

Already though, they sit seven points clear of the bottom two, a consequence of winning three and drawing two of their first eight matches.

John Lammers's side can count a 1-1 draw at AZ Alkmaar as a point gained, but they are yet to prevail from any of their opening four away games in 2023-24.

On a positive note, three wins - against NEC Nijmegen, Excelsior and PEC Zwolle - have been posted at Erve Asito, providing them with the belief that they can topple a team of Twente's growing confidence.

Team News

On the back of such a heavy defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, Lammers may feel obliged to make a number of changes to his Heracles XI.

Mario Engels is likely to be recalled in the final third, potentially in place of Bryan Limbombe on the right flank.

However, youngster Antonio Satriano may remain among the replacements, allowing Mohamed Sankoh to continue down the middle of the attack.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel came off the substitutes' bench to score his fourth Eredivisie goal of the season last time out, putting him in contention for a recall to the Twente starting lineup.

That said, barring any fitness issues, Oosting may be prepared to stick with the team that eased past Fortuna Sittard, a move that would leave midfielder Carel Eiting still awaiting his first start of the campaign.

Heracles possible starting lineup:

Brouwer; Bakboord, Bultman, Hoogma, Willems; Vejinovic, Keersmaecker; Limbombe, Ouahim, Hansson; Sankoh

FC Twente possible starting lineup:

Unnerstall; Sampsted, Hilgers, Propper, Regeer; Kjolo, Sadilek; Rots, Steijn, Vlap; Ugalde

We say: Heracles 1-3 FC Twente

Heracles have already shown this season that they are more than capable of racking up points at their home ground. However, they are playing one of the in-form teams in the country, and we feel that Twente will continue on their merry way as they bid to strengthen their spot in the top three.

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