Match Preview
This Sunday, fans of the Eredivisie will be treated to an exciting clash between two early season high-flyers, AZ Alkmaar and FC Utrecht. Both teams have started the 2024-25 season impressively, with AZ currently sitting in second place in the standings and Utrecht just behind them in third.
AZ Alkmaar, under the guidance of Maarten Martens, have been in fine form this season and will be looking to continue their unbeaten run when they face Utrecht at AFAS Stadion. The team has been particularly impressive in attack, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, with Troy Parrott leading the way with five goals to his name.
On the defensive end, AZ has also been solid, conceding just two league goals so far, the fewest of any team in the division. Their defensive resilience will be tested against a Utrecht side that has shown significant improvement this season.
Utrecht, managed by Ron Jans, have also been in good form, still unbeaten and trailing AZ by just three points in the standings. However, they have shown a tendency to start matches poorly, conceding early goals in their last three games.
In their last meeting, these two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, extending Utrecht’s winless run against AZ to six matches. Utrecht will be looking to break that streak and secure a positive result on Sunday.
Team News
In terms of team news, AZ Alkmaar may be without Bruno Martins Indi, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Sem Westerveld and Lewis Schouten are also sidelined with knee and muscle injuries, respectively. Utrecht, on the other hand, will be missing Zidane Iqbal, Niklas Vesterlund, and Kevin Gadellaa due to various injuries.
Possible Lineups
Based on recent performances and team news, the possible starting lineups for the match could see Owusu-Oduro, Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, and Wolfe in defense for AZ Alkmaar, with Clasie and Koopmeiners in midfield. Van Bommel, Mijnans, Sadiq, and Parrott could form the attacking line.
For FC Utrecht, Barkas, Horemans, Viergever, Van der Hoorn, and El Karouani may make up the defensive line, with Engwanda and Bozdogan in midfield. Romeny, Toornstra, Cathline, and Ohio could feature in the attacking positions.
Prediction
With both teams in good form and capable of scoring goals, we can expect an entertaining match with chances at both ends. However, given AZ’s strong defensive record and home advantage, they may have the edge in this contest. A narrow 2-1 victory for AZ Alkmaar could be on the cards.
In conclusion, Sunday’s Eredivisie clash between AZ Alkmaar and FC Utrecht promises to be a thrilling encounter between two in-form teams. Fans can expect an exciting match with plenty of goal-scoring opportunities and quality football on display.
