Twente look to extend unbeaten run

Twente look to extend unbeaten run

Published Apr. 9, 2010 2:41 a.m. ET

FC Twente will be looking to extend their eight-match unbeaten run when they host Heerenveen in the Eredivisie this weekend.

Steve McClaren's side currently lead the table by four points from Ajax with PSV Eindhoven a further point behind. The race for the title is between those three teams with fourth-placed Feyenoord 16 points behind PSV.

With victory last time out against VVV Venlo, Twente claimed a new club record of 24 wins in a season to surpass the previous best from 1973/74.

Goals came courtesy of Blaise Nkufo and Bryan Ruiz, who has been in unstoppable form since his move from AA Gent last summer with 28 goals in all competitions.

The Costa Rica striker scored one of the fastest hat-tricks in Eredivisie history recently when he hit all three goals in just four minutes 20 seconds against Sparta Rotterdam.

Such form has put the 24-year-old in the spotlight and ahead of this weekend's game, Ruiz admits he fancies a move to Spain although he is adamant he wants to guide Twente to the title.

He is quoted as telling Efe Radio: "Several Primera Division sides have contacted me to talk about a transfer.

"However, I want to focus on winning the league with Twente first before discussing a possible move.

"I can start thinking about moving to a bigger league once the season has come to an end. I don't know whether Twente are willing to talk about a transfer, but I have a 15 million euros release clause.

"I've already said before that I really like the Primera Division. "I like the attacking style of play and the technical football they play in Spain.

"However, I could also move to Germany, Italy or England."

Ajax were the last team to beat Twente, on February 7, and they remain unbeaten in 2010, a run of 14 games since their last league defeat in December.

They kept up the pressure on Twente last week with a 1-0 win over ADO Den Haag thanks to an injury-time goal by Toby Alderweireld.

The Amsterdam side face VVV Venlo on Sunday as they look to keep the pressure on the Enschede outfit at the top of the table.

PSV host Feyenoord on the same day with two wins and a draw - against Twente - in their last three games following their 4-1 thrashing by Ajax. Fred Rutten's side led the Eredivisie as recently as last month, but a run of one point from a possible nine has left them trailing in the title race.

In the other games, bottom side RKC Waalwijk will look to stave off relegation when they host Vitesse Arnhem tomorrow.

NAC meet Roda in a mid-table clash on Saturday with struggling NEC Breda hosting fifth-placed Az Alkmaar and lowly Sparta Rotterdam entertaining Heracles. Ajax and PSV play on Sunday while the two sides in the relegation play-off places, Willem II and ADO Den Haag, travelling to face FC Groningen and FC Utrecht respectively.

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