MX23RW : Thursday, May 9 01:39:41| >> :600:353457:353457:
[monks data]
AZ Alkmaar
Eredivisie | Gameweek 7
Sep 18, 2022 at 3.45pm UK
AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar
Ajax

AZ
2 - 1
Ajax

de Wit (40'), Odgaard (45+5')
Milos (42'), Odgaard (45+3'), Reijnders (87')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Kudus (12')
Taylor (26'), Alvarez (77')

Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Eredivisie clash between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Matchday seven of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season concludes with a meeting between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday afternoon.

The home side will be looking to maintain their 100% record in the league this term, while the visitors seek to preserve their unbeaten start to the new campaign.


Match preview

Ajax suffered a 2-1 defeat against Premier League giants Liverpool when the teams locked horns in the group stages of the Champions League on Tuesday.

After going behind to Mohamed Salah's opener, Alfred Schreuder's men hit back through Mohammed Kudus before conceding a late header to Joel Matip.

Prior to that, De Godenzonen claimed an empathic 5-0 victory over Heerenveen on Sunday and remain top of the pile in the Eredivisie standings.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who managed four of a possible six points from the two league meetings between the sides last term.

Fresh off the back of a first competitive loss on enemy territory since April, Sunday's visitors will be aiming to get themselves back on track away from home.

AZ Alkmaar coach Pascal Jansen before the match on March 10, 2022© Reuters

AZ Alkmaar made it back to back wins in the Europa Conference League as they got the better of Vaduz thanks to a 4-1 thrashing on Thursday.

Pascal Jansen's men broke the deadlock through Yusuf Barasi in the 19th minute, but they were pegged back shortly afterwards by Anthony Goelzer before a late flurry of second-half goals from Sam Beukema, Yukinari Sugawara and Dani de Wit decided the contest.

However, the Cheeseheads were held to a 1-1 stalemate in their last domestic encounter against FC Twente and have now dropped to fourth place in the league table.

Currently on a run of nine victories and three draws in their most recent 12 games on home turf, Sunday's visitors are certainly no pushovers in front of their fans and will be confident of securing a positive result here.

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

Ajax Eredivisie form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Ajax form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L


Team News

Vangelis Pavlidis remains ruled out for AZ Alkmaar due to a leg injury, while Sweden international Jesper Karlsson continues to nurse a muscle injury.

Midfielder Hakon Evjen missed the victory over Vaduz in midweek with an ankle problem which could see him sit out Sunday's contest as well.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Bruno Martins Indi made his return to action in the aforementioned game and is expected to retain his place in the starting lineup.

Owen Wijndal and Mohammed Ihattaren are both unavailable for Ajax this weekend, but they are drawing increasingly closer to making a return to action.

With goals in each of his last four outings, Mohammed Kudus will be aiming to continue his hot streak in front of goal before leaving for national-team duty.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Verhulst; Chatzidiakos, Kerkez, Dekker, Beukema; Reijnders, Clasie, De Wit; Barasi, Odgaard, Van Brederode

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Resnch, Timber, Bassey, Blind; Berghuis, Alvarez, Taylor; Tadic, Bergwijn, Kudus


SM words green background

We say: AZ Alkmaar 1-3 Ajax

Despite failing to win any of the league encounters between the teams last time out, Ajax have dominated this fixture to a large degree, and it is hard to foresee any other result rather than a win for them. While we expect AZ Alkmaar to give a good account of themselves, we are also backing the visitors to carry the day.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


ID:494854:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8994:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: AZ vs Ajax

AZ Alkmaar
12.3%
Draw
7.7%
Ajax
80.0%
65
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Joel Matip celebrates scoring their second goal with Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho on September 13, 2022
Read Next:
Joel Matip earns Liverpool last-gasp win over Ajax
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPSV EindhovenPSV322831107198887
2Feyenoord32246285246178
3FC Twente32196760332763
4AZ AlkmaarAZ32187764362861
5Ajax321410869591052
6NECNijmegen321311862471550
7FC UtrechtUtrecht32131094643349
8Go Ahead Eagles321110114542343
9Sparta RotterdamSparta32127134847143
10Heerenveen32107155165-1437
11Fortuna SittardSittard3299143655-1936
12PEC Zwolle3298154364-2135
13Almere CityAlmere City32713123252-2034
14Heracles3295184170-2932
15RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk3277183652-1628
16SBV ExcelsiorExcelsior32511164669-2326
RFC VolendamVolendam3247213179-4819
RVitesse3255222571-462


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!