AZ Alkmaar will want to bounce back from a heavy European defeat to Aston Villa when they face NEC in Sunday's Eredivisie clash.

The visitors, who occupy 11th position, will be looking to return to winning ways after going three games without a victory.

Match preview

Alkmaar endured a difficult outing in the Europea Conference League in midweek after they were thrashed 4-1 in their home meeting with in-form Premier League side Aston Villa.

Ibrahim Sadiq's 65th-minute consolation offered little solace for Pascal Jansen's side, who are sitting bottom of Group E on goal difference, having picked up three points from as many matches.

While there is room to improve on the European stage, Alkmaar have enjoyed a scintillating start to the Eredivisie season, winning eight of their nine matches (D1) to leave them in second place and two points behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven.

Alkmaar, who are one of three teams yet to lose in the Eredivisie this season, have conceded just four league goals, ensuring that they head into the weekend with the second-best defensive record in the top flight.

They have also performed well at the other end of the pitch, especially at the AFAS Stadion, where they have netted 15 goals across their five home league games.

NEC, meanwhile, have found wins hard to come by in the 2023-24 campaign, having claimed just two victories in their nine matches.

Since recording the second of those two wins against FC Utrecht on September 23, Nijmegen have gone on to pick up two points from three games.

After falling to a 3-1 defeat to Vitesse, Rogier Meijer's charges have played out consecutive 1-1 draws with Heerenveen and Almere City to take their tally to nine points.

Having seen his side concede the first goal in each of the last three games, Meijer will be challenging his players to be alert from the first whistle on Sunday.

However, as one of six Eredivisie teams yet to win an away game this season, NEC know that they will face a tough test against an Alkmaar side they have failed to beat in their last four meetings (D2, L2).

Team News

Alkmaar goalkeeper Sem Westerveld and midfielder Mees de Wit are likely to miss out once again due to knee and foot injuries respectively.

Jansen is expected to recall Sweden Under-21 international Mayckel Lahdo, who was suspended for Thursday's defeat to Aston Villa.

After netting a hat-trick last weekend, Vangelis Pavlidis has now scored 13 goals in nine league games this season, and Eredivisie's joint-top scorer will have the chance to continue his red-hot form when he leads the line on Sunday.

As for the visitors, there are doubts surrounding the availability of French duo Alexis Tibidi and Brayann Pereira.

Right-back D'Leanu Arts is expected to come into the side to replace Bart van Rooij, who will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off in the draw against Almere City.

Experienced goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen had to settle for a place on the bench following his return from injury last weekend, but Meijer could be tempted to bring the 34-year-old back in for Sunday's contest, which would see Robin Roefs drop out of the side.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Ryan; Sugawara, Bazoer, Penetra, Wolfe; Mijnans, Clasie, de Wit; Lahdo,Van Brederode; Pavilidis

NEC possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Arts, Ross, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Schone, Proper, Mattsson; Gonzalez, Hansen, Dost

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 NEC

Alkmaar will be downbeat following Thursday's disappointing result, but with the hosts in fine domestic form, we think that they will cruise to a comfortable victory to prolong Nijmegen's winless away run.

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