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AZ Alkmaar
Eredivisie | 2nd Leg
May 29, 2022 at 1.30pm UK
AFAS Stadion
Vitesse

AZ
6 - 1
Vitesse

Pavlidis (3'), Reijnders (13', 52'), de Wit (41'), Karlsson (75', 89')
Evjen (8')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Bazoer (78')
Bero (29'), Tronstad (69'), Openda (69')

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

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

AZ Alkmaar and Vitesse will do battle at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday in search of a place in the playoffs of the 2022-23 Conference League.

AZ defeated Heerenveen in the previous round courtesy of a 4-3 aggregate victory, while Vitesse saw off the threat of FC Utrecht by the same scoreline.


Match preview

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

AZ Alkmaar fell to a 2-1 defeat against Vitesse at GelRedome in the first leg of their final qualifying round of matches for the Conference League playoffs.

Pascal Jansen's men fell behind to Thomas Buitink's strike midway through the first half but drew level through Jordy Clasie just before the hour mark, only for Lois Openda to net a late winner.

The Cheeseheads now head into the return leg with a mountain to climb as they seek to preserve their European ambitions.

However, Sunday's hosts will be confident of getting the job done having also completed a second-leg turnaround against Heerenveen

Off the back of a sensational 3-0 victory against Utrecht on Sunday, Vitesse picked up where they left off by narrowly edging AZ last time out.

Unsurprisingly, Thomas Letsch's men had their backs against the wall for the majority of the contest but a spirited display at both ends of the pitch saw them come out on top.

Geel en Zwart are now 90 minutes away from securing a place in the Conference League playoffs proper, but there is still work to be done in the second leg.

Sunday's visitors were a part of the inaugural edition of UEFA's third-tier competition and a positive result this weekend would see them close in on participating in the sophomore event.

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

Vitesse Eredivisie form:
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W


Team News

AZ Alkmaar's Zakaria Aboukhlal with teammate after the match in November 2020© Reuters

Owen Wijndal has missed each of AZ's last three outings with a muscle injury and the defender is expected to play no part on Sunday.

Fredrik Midtsjo is also a huge doubt for this one after he was forced with an injury just 15 minutes into his last outing.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Barasi is a guaranteed absentee for the home side, with the 19-year-old facing an extended spell on the sidelines having undergone knee surgery.

Vitesse will be without the services of Yann Gboho and Dominik Oroz, while Jacob Rasmussen is out of contention through an ankle problem.

Lois Openda has now been involved in three goals in his last two games against this weekend's opponents, and the Belgian forward is one to keep an eye on.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Vindahl; Hatzidiakos, Beukema, Martins Indi, Kerkez; Clasie, De Wit, Reijnders; Karlsson, Pavlidis, Evjen

Vitesse possible starting lineup:
Houwen; Yapi, Bazoer, Doekhi, Manhoef; Domgjoni, Tronstad, Bero; Vroegh, Openda, Buitink


SM words green background

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Vitesse

The onus is firmly on AZ to take control of proceedings as they seek to overhaul a first-leg deficit, and while we expect an open and end-to-end affair, we are also backing the hosts to carry the day and book their place in the Conference League playoffs.

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 under 3.5 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.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: AZ vs Vitesse

AZ Alkmaar
80.4%
Draw
7.8%
Vitesse
11.8%
51
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3FC Twente26165549252453
4AZ AlkmaarAZ26147553233049
5Ajax26118757471041
6NECNijmegen26109750401039
7Go Ahead Eagles2610793835337
8FC UtrechtUtrecht269983133-236
9Fortuna SittardSittard2697103344-1134
10Sparta RotterdamSparta2687113338-531
11Heerenveen2694134249-731
12Almere CityAlmere City2679102643-1730
13PEC Zwolle2677123447-1328
14Heracles2675143358-2526
15SBV ExcelsiorExcelsior26410123957-1822
16RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk2664162443-1922
17Vitesse2645172153-3217
18FC VolendamVolendam2635182667-4114


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