As the UEFA Europa League group stage reaches its midway point, FC Twente prepares to host Lazio at De Grolsch Veste on Thursday evening. This match pits the undefeated but winless Dutch side against the group leaders from Italy in what promises to be an intriguing encounter.
FC Twente, despite not securing a victory, have shown remarkable resilience in their Europa League campaign so far. They’ve managed to hold their own against formidable opponents, drawing 1-1 with both Manchester United at Old Trafford and Fenerbahçe at home. These results, while not ideal, demonstrate Twente’s ability to compete at this level.
The Dutch side’s recent form in the Eredivisie has been mixed, with a loss to Feyenoord and a draw against RKC Waalwijk. However, they’ve maintained an impressive scoring streak, finding the net in 21 consecutive matches across all competitions since March.
Lazio, on the other hand, have made a perfect start to their Europa League campaign. With convincing victories over Dynamo Kyiv and Nice, the Italian side sits atop the group with six points and an impressive goal difference of +6. Their attacking prowess has been particularly noteworthy, having scored seven goals in just two matches – more than any other team in the competition.
Marco Baroni’s squad has shown excellent form in Europe, contrasting with their somewhat inconsistent performances in Serie A. The Biancocelesti will be eager to maintain their momentum and secure a third consecutive European victory, a feat they’ve achieved only twice before in their history.
For Twente, Sem Steijn has been a standout performer, directly contributing to nine of the team’s 16 league goals this season. His ability to both score and create could be crucial against Lazio’s defense.
Lazio’s attack is spearheaded by Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia, both of whom have netted twice in Europe this term. Their continued form will be vital to Lazio’s ambitions of topping the group.
This match marks a significant moment for Twente, as it’s their first encounter with Italian opposition in European competition since their memorable victory over Juventus in the 1975 UEFA Cup semi-finals. That triumph, however, was followed by disappointment in the final against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Team News
Twente will be without Moroccan midfielder Younes Taha due to a long-term injury. Manager Joseph Oosting may make some changes to the side that drew with RKC Waalwijk, but key players like Michel Vlap and Sem Steijn are likely to retain their places.
Lazio coach Marco Baroni is expected to rotate his squad, as he has done in previous Europa League fixtures. Dutch forward Tijjani Noslin is unavailable due to a UEFA suspension, while Manuel Lazzari is doubtful with a thigh issue.
Expected Starting XIs
FC Twente: Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Bruns, Hilgers, Salah-Eddine; Vlap, Regeer; Van Bergen, Steijn, Rots; Lammers
Lazio: Mandas; Marusic, Romagnoli, Patric, Pellegrini; Rovella, Vecino; Tchaouna, Dele-Bashiru, Pedro; Castellanos
Match Prediction
Given Twente’s resilience at home and Lazio’s attacking prowess, this match could develop into an open and exciting contest. While Lazio’s perfect start makes them favorites, Twente’s ability to score consistently and their strong performances against tough opposition suggest they could cause problems for the Italian side.
Prediction: FC Twente 2-2 Lazio
