Sports activities Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League conflict between FC Twente and Lazio, together with predictions, staff information and doable lineups.
Hoping to topple early Europa League leaders Lazio, winless FC Twente will welcome the Italian facet to De Grolsch Veste on Thursday night.
Whereas the Tukkers have taken two factors from as many video games to date, their rivals from Rome are high of the desk following back-to-back wins.
Match preview
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Though each of their Europa League fixtures this season have completed 1-1, given the calibre of opposition confronted, Twente is probably not dismayed by their failure to style victory up to now.
The Tukkers fought again to carry Manchester United to a draw at Outdated Trafford on the opening matchday, and final day trip they took some extent from their first dwelling recreation, towards Fenerbahce.
Nevertheless, that does imply that Twente are winless in 9 Europa League matches earlier than returning to motion on Thursday.
Since letting victory slip from their grasp towards Fener, Joseph Oosting‘s facet have misplaced to Feyenoord and drawn with RKC within the Eredivisie, the place they sit sixth in the standings.
Following Carel Eiting‘s last-gasp leveller on the weekend, they’ve now scored in 21 straight video games throughout all competitions – a run that dates all the best way again to March.
Now, Twente deal with Italian opposition in both the Europa League or its predecessor for the primary time since beating Juventus within the 1975 UEFA Cup semi-finals, after they received each legs however then misplaced to Borussia Monchengladbach within the closing.
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After a convincing win over Dynamo Kyiv on the opening matchday, Lazio continued their effective begin to the league section by beating Good 4-1 at dwelling earlier this month.
High scorer Taty Castellanos netted twice at Stadio Olimpico to place the Biancocelesti high of the desk on six factors from a doable six.
Their quest for a top-eight end – which might convey automated qualification for the final 16 – has subsequently loved the proper starting, and Marco Baroni‘s boys are intent on extending that flawless document.
Solely twice earlier than have Lazio received their first three European video games of a season, however their free-scoring begin suggests they may accomplish that once more this week.
The capital membership have racked up extra targets than some other facet to date (seven), whereas solely Elfsborg – who lately beat their arch-rivals Roma – have the next shot conversion charge.
Forward of final week’s defeat to Juventus, Lazio had claimed most factors from 4 consecutive fixtures throughout Serie A and the Europa League, representing their finest run because the flip of the 12 months.
Nevertheless, an excellent document in Rome will not be matched by comparable kind on the street: following their 1-0 loss in Turin, they common beneath one level per league recreation away from dwelling.
FC Twente Europa League kind:
FC Twente kind (all competitions):
Lazio Europa League kind:
Lazio kind (all competitions):
Crew Information
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Twente’s most notable absentee on Thursday night time will probably be Moroccan midfielder Younes Taha, who’s sidelined till 2025 by a leg damage.
Joseph Oosting may make a handful of adjustments to the facet that scraped a late attract Waalwijk final week, however Michel Vlap – scorer of the opening purpose towards Fenerbahce – and Sem Steijn are prone to preserve their locations.
Following one other strike on Saturday, the latter has now been straight concerned in 9 of his staff’s 16 league targets this season.
In the meantime, Marco Baroni will rotate his squad once more, after making a number of adjustments to Lazio’s normal lineup in each Europa League video games to date.
Dutch ahead Tijjani Noslin misses out on a return to his homeland, having been handed a three-match ban by UEFA for violent conduct, whereas Manuel Lazzari is struggling to beat a thigh drawback.
Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia have each netted twice in Europe this time period, and both striker ought to begin up entrance at De Grolsch Veste.
FC Twente doable beginning lineup:
Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Bruns, Hilgers, Salah-Eddine; Vlap, Regeer; Van Bergen, Steijn, Rots; Lammers
Lazio doable beginning lineup:
Mandas; Marusic, Romagnoli, Patric, Pellegrini; Rovella, Vecino; Tchaouna, Dele-Bashiru, Pedro; Castellanos
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