FC Twente Vs FC Utrecht – On Thursday evening will be played an interesting match in the Dutch Eredivisie, and it is the first final game of the playoffs for placement in the Europe league. In fact, once Twente and Utrecht eliminated in the semi-finals with two wins over Groningen and Heerenveen, which ended the regular season on sixth and fifth place, respectively, will play against each other. Regarding their mutual games, Utrecht was more successful because it won 4-2 in an away game, while at home draw 1-1. Begins: 23.05.2013 – 20:45 CET
FC Twente
But we must bear in mind that Twente before that had three successive league wins over Utrecht, so their supporters sincerely hope now for return of those good times. Even more so as Twente players have excellently played the final part of the season, when they won five times and drew three, and in a very short period of time have from the bottom of the table came to chance to win placement in the Europe. And right on that path have won Groningen twice in the semi-finals of the playoffs, firstly away with 1-0, and then at home with 3-2. In this way players lead by the new coach Jansen, who is in fact the most responsible for the revival of the Twente’s game, once again confirmed that they definitely forgot everything bad that happened to them in the first part of the season. However, we must be honest and say that at that time the team had huge problems with injuries of its key players, which certainly had greatly affected their game. Now, the situation is much better, but still out of the team are the first goalkeeper Mihailov, midfielders Brame, Landzaat and Schilder and striker Bulykin.
Probable lineups FC Twente: Boschker – Rosales, Bengtsson, Bjelland, Braafheid – Fer, Gutierrez, Janssen – Tadi?, Castaignos, Chadli
FC Utrecht
Just like Twente, and Utrecht had some ups and downs during the season, which in the end resulted with a situation where they have to play the playoffs for placement in the Europe. In fact, they finished the regular part of the championship on fifth place, with just one point less than fourth Vitesse, but they certainly left a great impression in the last four rounds as they won the maximum 12 points. After that, they retained the great shape in the semi-finals of the playoffs, when they won Heerenveen with 1-0 away and 2-1 at home, which just confirms that now in the finals with Twente can compete on equal footing for placement in the Europe league. Otherwise, the team is led by 52-year-old Jan Wouters, who prefers an offensive game but because of big problems with injuries in forward part of team (Kogel, Takagi and Schepers) has been practically forced to invite in the first team several young players from the second team for this playoff. Let us say that in the first match with Twente will not play from before injured defender Nilsson and midfielder Sarota.
Probable lineups FC Utrecht: Ruiter – van der Maarel, van der Hoorn, Wuytens, Bulthuis – Toornstra, Martensson, Asare, Oar – Mulenga, van der Gun
FC Twente – FC Utrecht Pick
It is fact that in this finals of the play-off will meet two teams who after the regular season where separated on the table by just one point, but now we expect that Twente in next two matches shows that it has somewhat better team than Utrecht, especially as they play the first match in front of their fans.
Better's Tip: 1
Odd: 1.68
Stake: 9/10
Sky's Tip: Over 2.5
Odd: 1.70
Stake: 9/10
