Prediction: Twente vs Heerenveen

Verdict: Twente win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to finish off the job and punch their Conference League play-off final ticket, Twente will welcome Heerenveen to the De Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon.

Twente

Starting with the hosts, snatching what was a stunning last-gasp winner when they travelled to Heerenveen for their first-leg showdown in midweek, Twente are riding what has been a real wave of momentum of the past month. Now sat in pole position to punch their Conference League play-off final ticket, the mood in Ron Jans’ camp should be at a red-hot high. Signing off their Eredivisie campaign with a famous performance on May 28th as they stormed to a 3-1 romp at home against Dutch giants Ajax, the Reds have now won each of their last five straight meetings against top-flight opposition. Simply looking to finish off the job when they return to he De Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon, Twente have certainly found a major clinical edge in the final third. On a purple patch that is underlined by a 5-0 victory away at Waalwijk last month, Jans’ high-flying squad have notched 17 strikes on their five-match winning run.

Team News

Dealing with an extended ankle injury and not making a single appearance since the start of April, Twente will once again be unable to call upon midfielder Max Burns on Sunday afternoon.

Bagging that stunning last-gasp winner earlier in the week and now finding the net in each of his last three appearances on the spin, 21-year-old Manfred Ugalde will spearhead Jans’ attack here.

Heerenveen

As for the visitors, suffering last-gasp heartbreak at the Abe Lenstra in midweek, Heerenveen will know that they now face a real uphill struggle here. While Kees van Wonderen’s men might have signed off their Eredivisie campaign with a routine 2-0 victory at home against Go Ahead Eagles on May 28th, the Friesland-based outfit have shown some recent inconsistencies. Including a remarkable 4-0 drumming away at Sparta Rotterdam last month, De Superfriezen have recorded just a pair of wins from any of their last seven meetings against top-flight opposition. Hit with that 2-1 loss when they welcomed Twente to town a few days ago, Heerenveen should be concerned by what is a downbeat record against Sunday’s hosts. Mustering just one win from any of their previous seven appearances against their semi-final rivals – a run that stems back to February 2020 – van Wonderen’s side will know that they must plug their leaky defence.

Team News

Both dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Heerenveen will once again be without the duo of Joost van Aken and Sven van Beek on Sunday afternoon.

Despite now drawing a blank in each of his last four straight meetings against Eredivisie opposition, 23-year-old Sydney van Hooijdonk will lead Wonderen’s attack here. Settling for a spot on the bench in midweek, ex-Wolfsburg defender Jeffrey Bruma could make a full return.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met for their first-leg meeting at the Abe Lenstra in midweek, Twente claimed a last-gasp 2-1 victory.
• Sunday’s hosts have now won each of their last five straight meetings against Eredivisie opposition – a run that has seen them score 17 goals.
• Likewise, Twente have suffered just a single domestic defeat at the De Grolsch Veste this season.
• Including that first-leg defeat a few days ago, Heerenveen have mustered just two wins from their previous seven showdowns against Eredivisie opposition.
• Likewise, Sunday’s guests have shipped nine goals in their last three appearances away from the Abe Lenstra.

Conclusion

Snatching that stunning last-gasp winner when they travelled to the Abe Lenstra in midweek, Twente are certainly sat in pole position to finish off the job here. Now with a lucrative European ticket at the top of their agenda, Sunday’s hosts are in the midst of what has been a remarkable purple patch. Along with signing off their Eredivisie campaign with a 3-1 romp at home against Ajax on May 28th, Twente are enjoying a five-match winning run. Notching 17 goals on that extended flurry, Jans’ side will also be excited by their eye-catching record against Sunday’s play-off rivals. Including that first-leg 2-1 win earlier in the week, Twente have lost just one of their last seven showdowns against Heerenveen – a run that stems back to February 2020.

Verdict: Twente win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Olympusbet