RKC Waalwijk will be looking to capitalize on their first win last week when they host FC Twente in the Eredivisie. The hosts lifted themselves off the bottom of the standings with a hard-earned maximum at Vitesse, while the Tukkers extended their winning run by comfortably seeing off Ajax last weekend.
Preview (RKC Waalwijk vs FC Twente)
At the beginning of the 2023–24 Eredivisie season, Henk Fraser’s management was the target of groans from the spectators at the Mandemakers Stadion. Just before the international break, PSV Eindhoven destroyed RKC Waalwijk. RKC needed to respond during their Saturday away game against Vitesse. Fraser’s team delivered their first season-high total thanks to goals from Yassin Oukili and Richonell Margaret. After giving up a staggering 13 goals in their first four league games, former Vitesse manager Fraser switched to a central defensive pairing of Dario van den Buijs and Shawn Adewoye for the victory last Saturday, which enabled Etienne Vaessen to keep his first clean sheet of the season.
There is genuine excitement about Serbian attacker Filip Stevanovic’s potential. The 20-year-old made his debut in the victory last time out. The Manchester City loanee plotting his rise to first-team stardom at the Etihad. However, the general atmosphere around the Mandemakers Stadion is not the best after a concerning start. Last weekend, FC Twente shocked the Eredivisie by defeating defending champions Ajax. Goals from Daan Rots, Sem Steijn, and Naci Unuvar allowed the hosts to keep their perfect domestic record.
Some Twente supporters believed that top-flight newcomers Almere City were a tougher test during Twente’s season opening on August 12 than Maurice Steijn’s out-of-form Ajax. Many supporters of the Enschede-based club were startled at how easily their players chopped through Maurice Steijn’s out-of-form Ajax. The Tukkers are currently third in the league standings with a maximum total of four points. They trail PSV and AZ Alkmaar only by a narrower goal differential. Early indications point to a title challenge this season against teams like current league leaders Feyenoord.
Team News
Michiel Kramer, the captain of RKC Waalwijk, will get the chance to add to his two Eredivisie goals this season. Both of which came from the penalty spot, as the team is likely to field a similar lineup. The 22-year-old goal scorer Oukili is scheduled to play alongside Curacao international Godfried Roemeratoe in the hosts’ engine room once more after turning in a standout performance to bring his team to its first victory of the season. Fraser is unlikely to start Jurien Gaari again after his team recorded their first clean sheet. The defender is expected to stay on the bench after being switched to center-back for the victory last time out.
Gijs Smal hasn’t played since the Europa Conference League match against Hammarby back in August. He is still a doubt as the team struggles with injuries at fullback at the start of the current season. Since joining from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in January 2022, Joshua Brenet has been a dependable right-back. However, the former PSV player is presently out with an injury sustained in the victory over PEC Zwolle. Manfred Ugalde has been a tireless worker at the center of Twente’s attack over the first few weeks. The 21-year-old will be hoping to score his first goal of the season. He provided two assists in the first four games.
After a much-needed victory at Vitesse last weekend, Waalwijk will be a little more confident going into this match; but, facing high-flying Twente is going to be a much tougher task. We anticipate Oosting’s men to keep their perfect record on Sunday after the Tukkers, who just defeated the nation’s most illustrious club, look ready to genuinely challenge at the top of the Eredivisie standings this season.
RKC Waalwijk 1 – 3 FC Twente
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