After a 0-6 blowout, the intrigue is dead—but will Twente remain just as ruthless? Prediction for DAC 1904 vs Twente, 13.08.2026
On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the MOL Arena in Dunajská Streda will host the second leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round between DAC 1904 and Twente. Kickoff is set for 19:00 local time. In terms of the battle for progression, the suspense has all but vanished: the Dutch side cruised to a 6-0 victory in Enschede in the first leg, effectively booking their spot in the playoff round.
DAC 1904: Before the trip to the Netherlands, this team looked completely different
The 0-6 defeat was a real wake-up call for the Slovaks, especially considering how confidently Robert Klauss's side had handled their previous official matches. DAC began their European campaign with two victories over Velež—1-0 at home and 3-0 in Mostar. Sandwiched in between was a 1-1 draw with Ružomberok, and on August 2, the club beat Dukla Banská Bystrica 2-0. That meant, going into the clash with Twente, DAC were unbeaten in four official matches, conceding just once in that span.
The drubbing in Enschede was all the more telling. DAC conceded twice by the 11th minute, and after the break, their defense completely fell apart. Yet, the visitors did create some chances: Uroš Kabić fired just wide in the first half, and after the break, Ammar Ramadan curled a dangerous shot towards the top corner, only for Lars Unnerstall to deny him.
Ramadan has been one of DAC's most dangerous players during this European run: he netted a brace in the second leg against Velež. The club's Conference League roster also features Giorgi Gagua, Abdoulaye Gueye, Uroš Kabić, and Matej Trusa. So, at home, the Slovaks are expected to play with much more courage. Progressing is virtually out of reach, so the main motivation now is to put on a respectable performance in front of their fans and make amends for shipping six goals.
Twente: The result allows them to save energy
Twente dropped into the Conference League after failing to qualify for the Europa League against Ferencváros: the Dutch lost 1-2 at home and drew 2-2 in Budapest. But against DAC, the gulf in class was starkly evident.
Remarkably, six different players got on the scoresheet for Twente in the first leg: Dan Rots, Marko Pjaca, Dauda Weidmann, Max Bruns, Ramiz Zerrouki, and Robin Pröpper. The start was particularly impressive—by the 11th minute, the hosts were already 2-0 up, and after the break, they took full advantage of DAC's defensive frailties to add four more.
Twente's squad depth gives John van den Brom the ability to rotate significantly. The official European squad includes Unnerstall, Drommel, Pröpper, Van Roy, Bruns, Zerrouki, Hlínsson, Weidmann, Pjaca, Weghorst, Lammers, Rots, Ünüvar, and more. On August 8, van den Brom also noted that after the first game against DAC, the team emerged with virtually no injury concerns and that he had a nearly fully fit roster at his disposal.
That's why it's unlikely the visitors will show the same relentless intensity as they did in Enschede. With a six-goal cushion, Twente have no need to press constantly or ramp up the tempo. The priority is to control the game calmly, avoid unnecessary injuries, and see out the tie in a professional manner.
Match facts
- The first and so far only meeting between these teams ended in a 6-0 win for Twente.
- All six of Twente's goals in the first leg were scored by different players.
- Before the Enschede defeat, DAC were unbeaten in four straight official matches—three wins and a draw.
- In Twente's last five matches before August 9, at least three goals were scored in each game.
- As of August 8, Twente's coach described his squad as almost fully healthy.
Subheadline: Even with rotation, the visitors have enough quality: prediction for DAC 1904 vs Twente
The main question here is no longer who will advance, but rather how Twente will approach the second leg. After a 6-0 rout, the Dutch side can afford to make changes and play a more conservative brand of football, while DAC will be eager to attack in front of their home crowd.
However, the first match revealed a huge gap in decision-making speed and individual quality. Even potential squad rotation doesn't make Twente's lineup weak: sitting on the bench in Enschede were Hlínsson, Ünüvar, Lammers, Van den Belt, and Vennegor of Hesselink.
I don't expect another demolition job in the return leg—with a 6-0 aggregate lead, there's simply no need for the visitors to operate at full throttle. But even in a more measured mode, Twente look much stronger. DAC can create chances and might finally find the net in this tie, but stopping the visitors' deeper and higher-quality squad will be a tall order.
Prediction: Twente win.
