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

Relegation-threatened VVV-Venlo face sixth-placed FC Twente in what is likely to prove a difficult challenge for the hosts.

Twente have stumbled a little of late, but VVV are in dire form and the visitors will expect to return to winning ways on Saturday.

Match preview

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VVV have endured a poor campaign so far, sitting 15th in the Eredivisie table - only just outside the relegation zone.

They are one point and one place above the relegation playoffs, and just two points and two places above the automatic drop.

Despite claiming victory in their first game of the season - a 5-3 thriller against FC Emmen - VVV have won just once more in their subsequent 11 league games.

VVV are still yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have the worst defensive record in the league, conceding a whopping 36 goals in just 12 outings.

A significant chunk of those goals conceded came in a humiliating 13-0 home drubbing by Ajax - an extraordinary scoreline that will no doubt have been a significant blow to morale.

Those numbers will make for good reading for Twente, who boast the fifth-best goalscoring record in the Eredivisie, notching 24 strikes thus far.

Twente lost just one of their first nine fixtures as they started the season strongly, but two defeats in their last three games has halted their momentum somewhat.

Despite that, their one victory in that spell was a memorable 2-1 victory over league leaders Ajax, who suffered just their second defeat of the season at the hands of Twente.

VVV-Venlo Eredivisie form: LWLDLL VVV-Venlo form (all competitions): WLDLLW

FC Twente Eredivisie form: WWDLWL

Team News

VVV head coach Jay Driessen has just one injury issue to contend with ahead of Saturday's fixture.

Georgios Giakoumakis is sidelined and will not return until the beginning of next year.

Meanwhile, Twente manager Ron Jans has the same issue, with only one unavailable player.

Thijs van Leeuwen is still struggling with a groin injury and is also expected to return early next month.

Aside from that, both managers have fully-fit squads to pick from.

VVV-Venlo possible starting lineup: D van Crooy; Pachonik, Kum, Swinkels, Schafer; Linthorst; Hupperts, Hunte; V van Crooy; John, Arias

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

We say: VVV-Venlo 1-3 FC Twente

Twente may have suffered a slight dip in form recently but VVV are in free-fall and should offer little resistance against a far superior outfit.

Top betting tip