Heracles v FC Twente: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Heracles host FC Twente in the Eredivisie on Sunday, 18 January 2026 in Almelo, with the visitors eyeing the qualification play-offs and the bottom club desperate for points in the relegation battle.

FC Twente won the reverse fixture 2-1 in October and arrive in better shape. They sit seventh, while Heracles are 18th after a difficult run.

Form points to contrasting momentum. Heracles have lost their last two league games to Sparta Rotterdam and Heerenveen, following a 4-3 defeat at PSV and earlier draws with Fortuna Sittard and Telstar. Twente are unbeaten in their past five league matches, including wins over AZ and Go Ahead Eagles and draws with Feyenoord and PEC Zwolle, and also won away at Utrecht in the cup.

Team news matters. Heracles list Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Lorenzo Milani, Yvandro Borges Sanches and Sem Scheperman as injured. Twente are without Mees Hilgers, while Owen Panneflek is sidelined until 19 January.

The match-up could hinge on control versus resilience. Heracles have conceded 46 league goals with just one clean sheet and average 43% possession this season. Twente average 55% possession, have let in 22, and carry threats through Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who has six league goals, and Daan Rots on five. For Heracles, Ajdin Hrustic leads with six assists and Walid Ould-Chikh has four.

Twente are on 26 points and could strengthen their qualification play-off push with a win. Heracles, on 14 points in the relegation places, need a result to boost their survival bid and move closer to safety.