The Eredivisie season continues to deliver enthralling football, and anticipation is building for a compelling encounter as FC Twente prepares to host Fortuna Sittard at the iconic De Grolsch Veste on September 26, 2025, at 18:00 UTC. This clash pits a historically strong home side against an improving Fortuna, raising intriguing questions about who will seize the initiative in what promises to be a tactical battle.
Twente, often referred to as “The Tukkers” or “Pride of the East,” will undoubtedly benefit from their passionate home support. De Grolsch Veste has long been a fortress for the Enschede club, a factor that could play a significant role in this fixture. Fortuna Sittard, meanwhile, has shown glimpses of real potential this season and will arrive in Enschede aiming to upset the odds and continue their upward trajectory. Will Twente leverage their home advantage and strong head-to-head record, or can Fortuna Sittard defy expectations with their recent surge in form?
Head-to-Head
Historically, matches between FC Twente and Fortuna Sittard have largely favored the hosts. Across 52 meetings, FC Twente has secured 27 victories, while Fortuna Sittard has managed 14 wins, with 11 matches ending in a draw. Looking at a more recent, albeit smaller, sample of 19 direct matches, Twente still holds a comfortable lead with 11 wins to Fortuna Sittard’s 4, and 4 draws. Another record indicates that in 11 previous meetings, Twente won 7 times, Fortuna Sittard won 3 times, and there was 1 draw.
Recent Results (Last 5 Meetings):
- April 5, 2025: Twente 1 – 1 Fortuna Sittard
- November 23, 2024: Fortuna Sittard 1 – 2 Twente
- April 6, 2024: Twente 2 – 0 Fortuna Sittard
- October 8, 2023: Fortuna Sittard 0 – 3 Twente
- March 11, 2023: Fortuna Sittard 0 – 3 Twente
Notably, Twente has enjoyed an unbeaten run in their past six games against Fortuna Sittard leading up to this fixture. Several of their recent victories have been emphatic, including multiple 3-0 scorelines, highlighting their historical dominance over their opponents. The last clash, however, ended in a 1-1 draw at De Grolsch Veste, suggesting Fortuna may be closing the gap.
Current Form & Team News
FC Twente
Twente’s overall form in the Eredivisie this season (2025/2026) has been described as “Average,” with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, placing them around mid-table. Their last five league outings have seen them record a sequence of Loss-Win-Loss-Draw-Win.
Key players to watch for Twente include Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has been a prolific scorer with 5 goals this season, alongside Ünüvar with 4 goals, and Mitchel van Bergen with 2. Sem Steijn is also mentioned as a top scorer, though some reports suggested a potential move to Feyenoord earlier in 2025. Assuming his continued presence, his attacking prowess will be crucial. Currently, there are no widely reported significant injuries or suspensions for FC Twente heading into this match.
Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard, on the other hand, comes into this game in “Good” overall form, having registered 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in the current Eredivisie campaign. Their recent performances paint a more vibrant picture, with their last five matches prior to this fixture showing a strong run of four wins and one loss: W-W-L-W-W. This includes impressive victories over Feyenoord and Utrecht recently in September 2025.
Leading the line for Fortuna Sittard are Paul Gladon with 4 goals and Mohammed Ihattaren with 3 goals this season. Other notable attacking threats include Brittijn and Kristoffer Peterson. Fortuna has also seen some recent squad movement, with Mohammed Ihattaren joining from RKC Waalwijk and Justin Lonwijk arriving on loan from Dynamo Kyiv, while L. Rosier has departed. These additions could strengthen their midfield and attacking options. No specific major injury or suspension concerns have been highlighted for Fortuna Sittard.
Tactical Preview
FC Twente, under current management, is known for an adaptable tactical philosophy centered on possession and pressing. They typically deploy a flexible 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, aiming for high pressing to disrupt opposition build-up and regain possession quickly. Expect Twente to utilize their attacking full-backs and creative midfielders to orchestrate dynamic offensive strategies, with an emphasis on width and fluid movement. Defensive solidity, combined with quick transitional play after winning the ball, is also a hallmark of their game.
Fortuna Sittard often employs a 4-2-3-1 formation but also shows tactical flexibility with variations like a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1. Their strengths lie in counterattacks, efficiently finishing scoring chances, and attacking down the wings. The midfield battle will be crucial, with Twente’s possession-based approach clashing against Fortuna’s ability to steal the ball and launch rapid counter-attacks. The performance of creative players like Ihattaren for Fortuna and the attacking midfield for Twente will likely dictate the flow of the game.
Given the match is at De Grolsch Veste, Twente will enjoy a significant home advantage. While specific weather conditions or travel fatigue for Fortuna are not currently known, these factors can always subtly influence a match. However, playing at home generally boosts the confidence and performance of the host team.
