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

FC Twente will be hoping to win at home for the first time since the end of October when they welcome Sparta Rotterdam to De Grolsch Veste on Tuesday evening.

Ron Jans's side are currently sixth in the Eredivisie table, while De Kasteelheren sit in ninth position.

Match preview

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Twente picked up a 2-1 win against relegation-threatened VVV-Venlo on Saturday, thanks to goals from Danilo and Luka Ilic.

Brazilian youngster Danilo, on loan from Ajax, is now the outright top scorer in the Eredivisie with 11 goals in 13 matches.

Only three teams have scored more goals than Twente in total, with the Tukkers having netted in all but one of their games so far.

However they have struggled to keep them out at the other end, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last eight fixtures.

Jans's team have lost their last two matches on home turf to RKC Waalwijk and AZ Alkmaar, but have not been beaten at De Grolsch Veste by Sparta Rotterdam since January 2008.

The current Sparta side lost 3-2 at home to Groningen on Saturday – only their second defeat in their last six matches.

Henk Fraser's side have recovered from a poor start to the campaign – failing to win any of their first seven matches – to move clear from danger and sit comfortably in mid-table.

Over a third of their 22 goals this season have come from Lennart Thy, who has netted six times in his last seven games.

Sparta have won two of their six away games so far in 2020-21, which is already as many as they achieved in the whole of last season before it was abandoned.

FC Twente Eredivisie form: WDLWLW

Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie form: WWLWWL

Team News

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Teenager Thijs van Leeuwen remains Twente's only absentee, and he is not expected to return from a groin injury until January.

Ron Jans has not made too many changes to his team this season, so could name the same team that beat VVV-Venlo.

The only possible switch may come at left-back, where Gijs Smal could replace Jayden Oosterwolde.

Sparta Rotterdam are in a similar situation, with only back up goalkeeper Tim Coremans on the sidelines.

Having come off the bench in five of the last six games, centre-back Tom Beugelsdijk is pushing for a first start since the start of November as Sparta look to sure up their defence.

FC Twente possible starting lineup: Drommel; Ebuehi, Pleguezuelo, Pierie, Oosterwolde; Brama, Ilic, Roemeratoe; Cerny, Danilo, Menig

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup: Okoye; Abels, Vriends, Heylen, Pinto; Harroui, Auassar; Mijnans, Smeets, Duarte; Thy

We say: FC Twente 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam

Twente have shown themselves to be a much improved side this season, and have a lot of attacking talent in their side. That should make them favourites for this game, but Sparta are more solid than they were earlier in the campaign and will not make it easy for the hosts.

Top betting tip