Best Thursday football betting tips featuring Twente vs NEC. See expert picks, key stats & player insights.
One of our trusted experts, known for his deep knowledge of Dutch football, has picked this game as Today’s Best Bet, and the selection makes plenty of sense.
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FC Twente vs NEC Nijmegen
Expert: Wolfgang Shotten – Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Viktoria Plzen to Win | |
10/11 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Viktoria Plzen’s wastefulness cost them the first leg, but their superiority was clear. With Servette short on key players and the Czechs needing a win, this tie favours the visitors. Back Plzen to turn their dominance into a result and complete the comeback in Geneva on Wednesday night. | |
Key Stats:
- Sem Steijn has netted 24 goals and provided 7 assists in the Eredivisie this season, accounting for over 40% of Twente’s league goals.
- NEC are on a three-match winning streak, scoring eight goals and conceding only one during that run.
- FC Twente have conceded in five of their last six league games, including two goals in each of their last two matches.
Rationale:
Thursday’s Eredivisie European playoff semi-final sees two Dutch outfits in very different rhythms clash at De Grolsch Veste, with FC Twente seeking to assert their dominance over a revitalised NEC Nijmegen. Wolfgang Shotten, our Bundesliga-versed expert with a keen eye for tactical duels, shifts his gaze to the Netherlands this week, spotting real value in backing goals in this tie.
Twente ended the league season in sixth place, comfortably ahead of NEC by 11 points. Despite such a gap, their trajectory has been erratic—just two wins from their last nine games has cast doubts over their consistency. Those successes came against mid-table Sparta Rotterdam and Utrecht, but costly defeats to AZ and Ajax exposed vulnerabilities at the back, even with the reliable Sem Steijn leading the Eredivisie scoring charts.
Steijn, with his 24-goal haul, remains the heart of Twente’s attacking ambitions, and he will be crucial again. However, NEC’s recent revival should not be underestimated. With three consecutive victories to close the season, including a 3-0 shock win at Ajax, Rogier Meijer’s squad carry significant momentum into this two-legged tie. They’ve rediscovered their attacking edge, scoring eight goals in those final three matches—four of them coming from the dynamic pair of Bryan Linssen and Sontje Hansen.
NEC’s ability to strike from midfield, particularly through the likes of Hansen and Van Crooij, makes them dangerous in transition. Twente’s injury troubles, notably the likely absence of Lars Unnerstall in goal, may further tilt the balance in favour of an open, end-to-end encounter.
Shotten identifies this match as one destined for goals, not least due to both teams boasting forwards in hot form and neither side showing consistent defensive resilience. Backing goals from both ends, in what promises to be a pulsating tie, offers the best betting angle.
Best bet – Both Teams to Score
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