Twente dey chase Champions League spot as dem face Volendam for Eredivisie clash

Dis Friday, FC Twente go host FC Volendam for De Grolsch Veste for one match wey fit decide plenty things for top and bottom of Eredivisie table. Twente just comot from one big win against Ajax for Amsterdam, and dem dey eye Champions League spot. Volendam, on the other hand, dey fight to escape relegation zone.

For last week, Twente win Ajax 2-1 for away ground. Na first time since 2020 dem go beat Ajax for dia own backyard. Dat victory push Twente go fourth place with 50 points, and dem dey just three points behind NEC for third place. John van den Brom him team don win five of dia last six matches, and dem only lose once since October. But dat one loss na to FC Utrecht for Enschede, and Twente no wan make dem lose two home matches back-to-back.

Volendam, wey dey 14th for table, hold Feyenoord to 0-0 draw last week. Dat draw help PSV Eindhoven win di league title, but Volendam still dey danger zone. Rick Kruys him team get only five away points dis season, and dem don lose three of dia last four matches for road. Dem no even score for those three losses. If Volendam lose again dis Friday, dem fit slip go relegation playoff spot.

For team news, Twente go miss Daan Rots because of suspension. Mees Hilgers still dey injured. Sam Lammers, wey get five goals and five assists, likely go start ahead of Ricky van Wolfswinkel. For Volendam, Nick Verschuren dey suspended, while Dave Kwakman and Silvinho Esajas dey injured. Henk Veerman just return from injury last week.

Dis match go test Twente ambition. Dem dey form well, but Volendam don show say dem fit shock big teams—dem don beat PSV and hold Ajax and AZ Alkmaar for dia home ground. But for away, dia record poor well-well. Twente dey favorite, but dem must careful.

For other news, Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie dey under pressure after dat 0-0 draw with Volendam. Feyenoord dey second, but NEC and Twente dey close behind. Van Persie refuse criticize him players after di match, but him vent anger on VAR. Some pundits like Harry van der Laan and Ali Boussaboun talk say Feyenoord lack creativity and confidence.

Also, one small kontroversy from last week Ajax vs Twente match. Mika Godts of Ajax refuse shake hands with Ramiz Zerrouki of Twente after di game. FC Twente correspondent Leon ten Voorde talk for Tubantia podcast say Godts na “difficult lad” but him fit play ball.

Former Dutch star Rafael van der Vaart talk about pressure for top clubs. Him mention Zerrouki, wey shine for Twente but struggle for Feyenoord. Van der Vaart talk say some players no fit handle pressure for big clubs, unlike for smaller teams where pressure less.

Meanwhile, Fortuna Sittard go face Twente next week. Fortuna dey 11th and dey chase European playoff spot, but dem no beat Twente since 2022. Twente dominance over dem clear—six wins from last seven meetings.

For other leagues, Punjab FC hold FC Goa to 1-1 draw for Indian Super League. Nsungusi Jr Effiong score for Punjab before get red card, and Dejan Dražić equalize for Goa. Goa move to fourth place with di draw.

Dutch results from last weekend show NEC beat Volendam 3-0, Go Ahead Eagles lose 4-1 to Twente, and Feyenoord draw 3-3 with NAC Breda. PSV don already win di title, but di battle for European spots and relegation still hot.