Twente must face a thirty‑time champion in Gibraltar

After the 1-0 victory over FC Thun, FC Twente continues its Conference League‑journey on Thursday and meets the thirty‑time national champion Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar. On paper the draw looks favorable, but the Tukkers face a club that has dominated its own country for years and is increasingly making an impression in Europe.

A club with an impressive honour roll

Lincoln Red Imps have now won thirty national titles, including fourteen consecutive between 2003 and 2016. Last season the title was won again and a treble was completed with the cup and the Pepe Reyes Cup. In the first four competitive matches of this season the club collected ten points and conceded only one goal, which means they are used to stepping onto the field as favorites.

European history that must not be forgotten

The most famous European night came in 2016, when Lincoln beat Celtic 1-0; Lee Casciaro, then 45, scored the only goal and was still working as a police officer at the time. In 2021 Lincoln became the first club from Gibraltar to reach the group stage of a European tournament, and last season they recorded the first ever win in a European knockout round by beating Lech Poznań 2-1.

Dutch connections and the upcoming clash

Lincoln has a small Dutch link: right‑back Julliani Eersteling, a former youth player at Sparta Rotterdam, now starts regularly; in addition, goalkeeper Mark Hamm and midfielder Nico Clara Pinto hold Dutch nationality. The first match of this Conference League‑campaign gave Lincoln no points, after a 2-1 loss to Brann. Twente departs on Thursday as the favorite, but must take into account a team that will not be pushed aside at European level. The match will be broadcast live from 21:00 on Ziggo Sport 2 and Ziggo Sport Free.