Looking to respond after back-to-back away defeats in the league, Fortuna Sittard welcome high-flying FC Twente to Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday afternoon in the Eredivisie.
The hosts had enjoyed their best start to a top-flight campaign this century before losses to AZ Alkmaar and Go Ahead Eagles, whereas the Tukkers recorded successive home wins most recently to keep on the coattails of league leaders PSV Eindhoven.
Match preview
With a 3-1 victory over strugglers FC Volendam on September 16, Fortuna Sittard sealed their best opening to an Eredivisie season since 1990, collecting nine points from their first five matches, managing to stay unbeaten during that period and climbing to fifth in the early-season standings.
Back-to-back away losses have dampened the mood slightly in Sittard, with the Limburgers losing 3-0 at Go Ahead Eagles before being thrashed 4-0 at second-placed AZ Alkmaar last Sunday to halt a very impressive start to the 2023-24 term.
Danny Buijs's men were undoubtedly second best against AZ at AFAS Stadion last weekend, with strikes from Jordy Clasie, Evangelos Pavlidis, Tiago Dantas and an own goal from centre-back Dimitris Siovas condemning Fortuna to their heaviest loss of the campaign so far.
The Limburgers have dropped to ninth in the Eredivisie standings following consecutive defeats in recent times, although a tally of nine points from their opening seven matches will be deemed adequate by the large majority of supporters entering the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday afternoon.
Stretching back to last season, Buijs's men are enjoying a five-match unbeaten spell in front of their home faithful, with their most recent home loss in the Eredivisie coming against AZ on April 16, when Pascal Jansen's side put three past Ivor Pandur without reply.
FC Twente made it back-to-back wins in the Dutch top flight last Saturday with a home success against Heerenveen, but maximum points did not come easy for the Tukkers, who were gifted a goal by some less-than ideal play from visiting goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
The 29-year-old was unable to secure a rather timid Michel Vlap strike from distance in the second period, with the ball eventually dribbling through the Dutchman's legs and into the goal, handing Twente their sixth Eredivisie win in seven matches at the beginning of the 2023-24 term.
Joseph Oosting's side also struggled to pose themselves as an attacking force in the narrow victory over relegation-threatened Vitesse in the game previous, and there is a consensus that Sunday's visitors have considerable room for improvement despite earning plenty of points so far.
The Tukkers occupy third place in the Eredivisie standings after collecting 18 points from their first seven league matches, trailing league leaders PSV - who still have their 100% record intact - by just three points heading into the final match before the season's second international break.
A large proportion of Twente's goals have arrived from their engine room so far this term, with midfielder Sem Steijn making the net ripple on four occasions in seven matches after only managing to score six times in 27 league appearances during the 2022-23 campaign.
Team News
There are no fresh injury concerns for Fortuna as they aim to get back to winning ways on Sunday, and centre-back Siovas should retain his place alongside Brazilian Rodrigo Guth in the hosts' backline despite scoring an own goal in the defeat at Alkmaar last time out.
Former Barcelona prospect Alen Halilovic has started all seven of his side's opening league matches, and the 27-year-old is hoping to nail down a regular first-team place in Sittard following unsuccessful spells at Birmingham City and Reading during the last few years.
Tijani Noslin and Inigo Cordoba are set to start on the flanks for Buijs's men, tasked with providing adequate service for summer arrival Mouhamed Belkheir, who has netted once in five league appearances so far this season.
Contrasting with the Limburgers, Twente have a busy medical room ahead of Sunday's trip to Sittard, but the visitors welcomed left-back Kan Gijs to first-team training on Monday, with the influential defender yet to feature in 2023-24.
It is expected that natural right-back Youri Regeer will continue on the left of the Tukkers' defence as Gijs steps up his recovery from injury, with Iceland international Alfons Sampsted operating on the right.
Defender Joshua Brenet has not played for Twente since the 3-1 home win over PEC Zwolle on August 20 and the 29-year-old remains a doubt for this weekend, meaning Robin Propper and Mees Hilgers will continue as the centre-back pairing.
Fortuna Sittard possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Pinto, Guth, Siovas, Dijks; Loreintz, Duarte, Noslin, Halilovic, Cordoba; Belkheir
FC Twente possible starting lineup:
Unnerstall; Sampsted, Hilgers, Propper, Regeer; Sadilek, Kjolo, Rots, Steijn, Vlap; Ugalde
We say: Fortuna Sittard 1-0 FC Twente
Fortuna Sittard struggled massively in recent away defeats at AZ and Go Ahead Eagles, but the Limburgers have been mightily impressive at home this term and will be confident of sealing a third win of the season.
Twente have limped to victories over Heerenveen and Vitesse most recently, and we believe that the Tukkers' underwhelming performances will catch up with them at Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday.
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Top tip
Carter White
