Twente chasing a third straight win: Twente vs Pafos prediction
On November 5, Twente will host Cypriot side Pafos in the third round of the Conference League league phase. The Dutch club won both of its opening matches and sits fifth with six points. The visitors are 27th with just one point. The hosts head into the clash in excellent form, while the Cypriots are enduring a prolonged slump.
Twente: nine goals in their last match and a confident start in Europe
John van den Brom's side began their Conference League campaign with a 1-0 win over Thun before thrashing Lincoln Red Imps 4-1. The Dutch club then defeated AZ 2-0 and, in their most recent Eredivisie outing, demolished Excelsior 9-0. It was the biggest victory in the club's history in the league. Wout Weghorst scored four times, while Sondre Eryasether provided five assists. To be fair, though, the opposition played almost the entire match with ten men.
Before the European fixture, the hosts were hit by several absences. Goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, defenders Max Bruns and Stav Lemkin, as well as Filip Thorvaldsen, will all miss out. Weghorst has suffered a hamstring problem, so his playing time could be limited. At the same time, Thomas van den Belt has hit good form, scoring three goals in recent matches against Lincoln and Excelsior.
Pafos: defensive problems and a winless run
The Cypriot club is competing in the main stages of European competitions for a third consecutive season, but this campaign has proved difficult. In the opening round of the Conference League, Pafos lost 1-3 to Atalanta before drawing 1-1 with Riga. Ricardo Sa Pinto's team has conceded in six straight European matches, allowing opponents to score 11 goals. In their latest Cypriot league outing, the visitors drew 2-2 with Apollon, extending their winless run to four matches.
The situation is further complicated by a long injury list. Jay Gorter, Jaja and Jonatas Noro remain sidelined, while David Goldar, Nicolas Ngamaleu and Pepe have also dealt with fitness issues. David Luiz recently returned to the squad, with Radoslaw Majecki starting in goal. In attack, the coach can call on Anderson Silva, Bjel and Lele, who scored against Apollon.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Twente have won both of their Conference League matches with an aggregate score of 5-1
- The Dutch club have scored 15 goals in their last three away matches
- Pafos have conceded 11 goals in their last six European matches
Can Twente maintain their winning run? Twente vs Pafos prediction
Twente look like clear favorites thanks to their attacking firepower and confident performances in recent matches. Van den Brom's team consistently creates dangerous chances, while the visitors' defensive frailties offer an ideal opportunity to extend their winning run.
Pafos could find the net, having scored in five of their last six European matches. However, their numerous absences and defensive inconsistency significantly reduce the Cypriots' chances of a positive result.
