AZ Alkmaar vs. Go Ahead Eagles: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Preview
In a highly anticipated rematch, AZ Alkmaar is set to face off against Go Ahead Eagles at AFAS Stadion on Sunday for their 15th match of the Eredivisie season. This matchup is a repetition of last season’s KNVB Beker final, where Go Ahead Eagles triumphed in a penalty shootout.
Match Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs. Go Ahead Eagles
AZ Alkmaar comes into this match following a mixed run of form. After suffering three consecutive losses in the league, they bounced back with a convincing 3-1 victory against PEC Zwolle in the KNVB Beker. Despite trailing at halftime, AZ staged a remarkable comeback with three goals in the second half. A pivotal performance came from Sven Mijnans, who netted the equalizer.
However, AZ’s performance in the league has raised concerns. They’ve faced defeats against PSV Eindhoven (5-1), Heerenveen (3-1), and FC Twente (1-0), which has placed significant pressure on the team to find consistency.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, Go Ahead Eagles has struggled against AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, only managing to avoid defeat in two of their last ten encounters. The last time they won in the league was in February 2014. Nonetheless, as they prepare for this fixture, there is hope based on their previous cup victory.
Current Form: Go Ahead Eagles
Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles has also had a challenging stretch, entering this match on a three-game winless run across all competitions. Their last league victory came against Feyenoord with a surprising 2-1 scoreline. However, subsequent defeats to Heracles (4-2), Stuttgart (4-0), and a draw against Utrecht have caused a slump in their performance.
- Recent Results:
- Defeat to Heracles: 4-2
- Defeat to Stuttgart: 4-0
- Draw against Utrecht: 2-2
- Current League Position: 11th place
Injury News
Both teams face injury challenges ahead of the encounter. AZ Alkmaar is without players Jordy Clasie, Mexx Meerdink, and Seiya Maikuma. Troy Parrott, a key attacker, is looking to recover from a missed penalty that cost them against FC Twente. Sven Mijnans has been a strong contributor for AZ this season.
On the other hand, Go Ahead Eagles has a longer injury list, with Gerrit Nauber, Soren Tengstedt, Pim Saathof, and Robbin Weijenberg all sidelined due to injuries.
Predicted Lineups
| AZ Alkmaar | Go Ahead Eagles |
|---|---|
| Owusu-Oduro | De Busser |
| Dijkstra | Deijl |
| Penetra | Van Zwam |
| Dekker | Kramer |
| De Wit | James |
| Smit | Meulensteen |
| Koopmeiners | Twigt |
| Mijnans | Margaret |
| Patati | Goudmijn |
| Parrott | Suray |
| Jensen | Smit |
Prediction
Given their historical success at home and the current form of both teams, AZ Alkmaar is favored to secure a victory. With Go Ahead Eagles struggling on the road, AZ is expected to edge this contest with a predicted scoreline of 2-1.
