Highlighted: Is it time for wins for FC Twente?
FC Twente closed the 2025 calendar year with a 1–1 draw away at Feyenoord. On the surface, a creditable result. But given the balance of chances, the Tukkers will have felt they deserved more – something that has happened all too often during the first half of the season. In 2026, FC Twente will need to start turning good performances into victories, beginning with a home clash against PEC Zwolle.
On top in chances
At the halfway point of the Eredivisie season, FC Twente sit seventh with 25 points. The Enschede-based side have recorded six wins and no fewer than seven draws. More than any other team this season (level with Go Ahead Eagles on seven). It is FC Twente’s highest number of draws at this stage of a campaign since 2014/15, when they had also drawn seven times before the winter break.
That is despite FC Twente being the dominant side in many of their matches. No team have outshot their opponents in more different games this season than FC Twente: fourteen in total, the same as sc Heerenveen and N.E.C. Nijmegen. In addition, only PSV (15 matches) and sc Heerenveen (14) have held the edge more often in terms of Expected Goals than the Tukkers, who did so in thirteen games.
Attacking full-backs as a key weapon
FC Twente’s full-backs Mats Rots (Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month for December) and Bart van Rooij play a crucial role in the team’s attacking play.
Left-back Mats Rots is joint-top among teenagers this season for goal involvements, with four in total (two goals and two assists). Only midfielders Kees Smit (AZ) and Robin van Cruijsen (FC Volendam) have matched that tally. In addition, only Kodai Sano has completed more successful dribbles past his direct opponent in the Eredivisie this season (nine) than the 19-year-old Rots (eight).
On the opposite flank, only forwards Daan Rots and Ricky van Wolfswinkel (both six goal involvements) have been directly involved in more league goals for FC Twente this season than Bart van Rooij (five). The 24-year-old right-back has been a major attacking outlet, contributing two goals and three assists.
Van Rooij’s influence goes beyond well-timed runs, goal threat, assists and solid defending. The Brabant-born defender has also emerged as an extra playmaker from full-back. Only three players in the Eredivisie have completed more passes this season that bypassed at least one line of the opposition than Van Rooij (170).
Defensive solidity
FC Twente’s full-backs are not solely focused on attacking; defensively, the Tukkers have been rock-solid as well. This season, FC Twente have conceded the fewest shots (167) and the lowest Expected Goals against (18.0) in the Eredivisie.
In addition, FC Twente have kept clean sheets in their last three home league matches. The last time they managed four consecutive home clean sheets at the highest level dates back to the period between September and November 2012.
Who will win?
All in all, the signs are promising, but strong performances now need to be converted into victories. This Saturday, PEC Zwolle will be FC Twente’s first opponents of 2026. At the highest level, FC Twente have never hosted an opponent more often without losing than PEC Zwolle (22 matches): fifteen wins and seven draws.
Will the side currently seventh in the Eredivisie claim another victory, or will PEC Zwolle take the points? Tune in on Saturday 10 January at 18:45 for FC Twente vs PEC Zwolle.
