ENSCHEDE, Netherlands (Interstat) — Twente opened its Eredivisie season with a dominant 4-0 victory over Jong Sparta on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at De Grolsch Veste.

Thomas van den Belt scored twice in a one-minute span just before the hour mark, setting the tone for a lopsided match that saw Twente control possession and create numerous scoring chances. Van den Belt found the net in the 58th minute and again in the 59th, leaving Jong Sparta’s defense scrambling to regroup.

Kristian Nökkvi Hlynsson, a midfielder, added a goal in the 71st minute to extend the lead to 3-0 before Daan Rots capped the scoring in the 78th minute. The four goals came against a Jong Sparta side that managed few threatening attacks and was unable to break through Twente’s back line.

Twente’s season record in the competition improved to 1 win and 0 losses, while Jong Sparta fell to 0 wins and 1 loss. The same records apply across all competitions, as this was the first match of the campaign for both teams.

The match featured two yellow cards. Twente substitute Marvin Young was booked in the 17th minute for a late challenge. Bruno Martins Indi of Jong Sparta received a yellow card in the 70th minute for a tactical foul.

Young, despite the early caution, recorded an assist during the match, setting up one of the goals. His contribution off the bench helped Twente maintain offensive pressure after the halftime break.

Defensively, Twente limited Jong Sparta’s opportunities, forcing the visitors into long-range attempts that never troubled the home goalkeeper. The clean sheet continued a strong start for the Twente defense, which will look to build on the performance in upcoming fixtures.

Jong Sparta struggled to find rhythm in the midfield, often losing possession in key areas. The visitors’ best chance came late in the first half, but the shot was deflected wide. Twente goalkeeper was largely untested throughout the 90 minutes.

The victory gave Twente an early boost in the standings, while Jong Sparta will need to regroup quickly ahead of its next match. The Eredivisie season remains young, and both teams have ample time to adjust.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Twente 2, Jong Sparta 1. Interstat’s ELO system gave Twente a 96.30 percent probability to win before the match.