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

Two sides who recently put an end to their respective losing streaks last time out clash at the Mandemakers Stadion on Thursday when FC Twente visit RKC Waalwijk.

The away side also have a league double over their hosts in sight following a 2-0 victory in November's reverse fixture.

Match preview

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RKC Waalwijk played out an entertaining 3-3 draw versus VVV-Venlo on Saturday to snap a run of four consecutive defeats.

In a crazy game at De Koel, Cyril Ngonge scored twice including an 84th-minute penalty to ensure that his side's remarkable effort on the day did not go unrewarded.

Fred Grim's men continue to hang on for their lives as they remain three points ahead of the drop zone with two games left.

They will want to secure their safety as soon as possible with a visit to Feyenoord awaiting them on the final day of the season.

Thursday's hosts were set to go down last season before the campaign got interrupted by coronavirus, and once again, they look to have beaten the drop.

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Twente's run of league games without a victory is now up to 10 after a 1-1 draw with Heracles at De Grolsch Veste on Saturday.

Danilo found the back of the net with five minutes remaining on the clock to cancel out Mats Knoester's opening strike.

Like Waalwijk, Ron Jans's men also ended a four-game losing run courtesy of that draw, but their hopes of securing a European place are all but over now.

Nonetheless, Thursday's visitors have an opportunity to secure a first away victory at the hosts since 2012 when they picked up a 1-0 win.

Team News

Julio Pleguezuelo will not be featuring for the away side anytime soon after he picked up a season-ending knee injury in February.

Like Pleguezuelo, Vaclav Cerny is also out for the remainder of the current campaign as he remains sidelined with a damaged knee.

Kik Pierie was forced off against Utrecht due to a thigh injury which made the 20-year-old defender miss his side's last two outings.

Sylla Sow's red card in Waalwijk's defeat to AZ Alkmaar has been rescinded, and he is expected to be named in the starting XI for this one.

Morad El Haddouti is unfit to play due to an ankle injury which he picked up when he came on as a second-half substitute back in November.

RKC Waalwijk possible starting lineup:
Lamprou; Quasten, Touba, Meulensteen, Bakari; Anita, Van der Venne, Tahiri; Oosting, Sow, Daneels

FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Drommel; Smal, Markelo, Dumic, Ebuehi; Roemeratoe, Bosch, Zerrouki; Menig, Danilo, Narsingh

We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-1 FC Twente

Given the current form of both sides coming into the game, neither of them should be too dissatisfied with a draw in this one. We are anticipating a tight affair and ultimately, a share of the spoils with goals at both ends.