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

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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

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