Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Eredivisie clash between AZ Alkmaar and NEC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two teams who kicked off the new Eredivisie season on different notes will do battle at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday as AZ Alkmaar entertain the challenge of NEC.
AZ managed to scrape all three points from a feisty affair on matchday one as NEC came away empty-handed from their curtain-raiser last time out.
Match preview
© Imago
AZ Alkmaar were involved in an ugly season opener against Almere City at the Yanmar Stadion but would have been thrilled to come away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Saturday evening.
Maarten Martens saw his side take the lead early on before going down to 10 men after just 18 minutes—the first of three straight red cards between both teams which marred the contest.
On the bright side, it is now 14 outings without a defeat for the Cheeseheads since losing back-to-back games against Heracles and PSV Eindhoven by a combined score of 10-1 in early April.
AZ’s 14-game unbeaten run has yielded an impressive 11 wins and seven clean sheets, highlighting a remarkable change in fortune for a side looking to bounce back from relatively underperforming last season.
With five of their opening six fixtures coming against bottom-half sides from the previous campaign and newly promoted teams, Saturday’s hosts will be keen to string together an impressive start to lay down an early statement of intent.
Having not lost in front of their fans since February, AZ are flying on home turf and will fancy their chances of exacting revenge against an opposing outfit who came out on top during their most recent visit.
© Imago
NEC were somewhat lucky only to have lost 2-1 against FC Twente last time out, having been second-best for the majority of the contest at Stadion de Goffert on Saturday evening.
After going behind to Sam Lammers‘s opener, Rogier Meijer‘s men hit back through Kodai Sano before Alec Van Hoorenbeeck grabbed the winner nine minutes into the second period.
That was the fourth straight opening-day defeat since gaining promotion back to the top flight for NEC, who were beaten by Ajax, Twente and most recently SBV Excelsior in the last three editions.
The Eniesee have usually recovered from a slow start to enjoy decent campaigns in previous years, but there is a wave of concern this time around with the defeat to Twente a sixth in the last eight matches.
Nonetheless, NEC must remain calm amid a tough run of matches that sees them face off against all top-four teams from last season over the opening seven gameweeks of the current campaign.
AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:
NEC Eredivisie form:
Team News
© Imago
Twenty-year-old Maxim Dekker was sent off in AZ’s triumph over Almere City and will serve a suspension in this weekend’s game.
This should see Riechedly Bazoer return to the lineup for his first start of the season despite being an unused substitute in each of the home side’s last three outings.
Sam Westerveld is still a considerable way off making his comeback from a knee injury he picked up in the early exchanges of last season.
Defender Philippe Sandler remains out of contention for NEC due to a muscle problem that has seen him fail to feature since the final week of April.
Japan international Kodai Sano has now found the back of the net in his last four league outings for the visitors, making him one to keep an eye on.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Zoet; Wolfe, Bazoer, Goes, Maikuma; Koopmeiners, Clasie; Van Brederode, Mijnans, Sadiq; Parrott
NEC possible starting lineup:
Roefs; Van Rooy, Alvarez, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers, Proper; Onal, Gonzalez, Sano; Ouaissa
We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 NEC
AZ Alkmaar were far from their best in their opening fixture, but a return to home turf should see them up the ante.
We are tipping the hosts to emerge victorious in a relatively comfortable manner come the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.