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NEC
Eredivisie | Gameweek 23
Mar 6, 2022 at 3.45pm UK
Goffertstadion
AA
AZ Alkmaar

NEC
1 - 3
AZ

Guth (44')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Karlsson (8', 70'), Evjen (76')
Vindahl Jensen (42')

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

:Headline: Preview: NEC vs. AZ Alkmaar - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Eredivisie clash between NEC and AZ Alkmaar, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

The Eredivisie's form side AZ Alkmaar will look to extend their eye-catching league run on Sunday, when they travel to take on NEC.

A 13-game unbeaten run has seen the visitors establish themselves in the top four, now just nine points off the summit of the Eredivisie table.


Match preview

Preview: NEC vs. AZ - prediction, team news, lineups

Following their promotion back from the second tier last term, NEC enjoyed a strong first half to the Eredivisie season, establishing themselves in the top half with 25 points from their opening 19 games.

Rogier Meijer's side have since hit a slightly tougher spell, though, earning just a single victory from their last six league outings.

That solitary win came away at Heerenveen, as Elayis Tavsan hit the only goal of the game, before Jonathan Okita salvaged a point with an equaliser in the dying minutes of their 1-1 draw with RKC Waalwijk.

Most recently, Meijer's men were thrashed 4-1 away at Vitesse, despite Mikkel Duelund giving them the lead in the 49th minute, as Alois Oroz netted a brace alongside goals from Danilho Doekhi and Thomas Buitink to send the visitors home empty-handed.

The slight dip in form has seen NEC drop to ninth spot in the Dutch top flight, and, while they are not threatened by the scrap at the bottom of the table, they will be keen to maintain their top-half status with a victory at the weekend.

Their visitors arrive in formidable form, with AZ Alkmaar having gone unbeaten in 13 league outings, and picking up 10 victories from the last 11 of those.

Following consecutive draws, the Kaaskoppen put together an eye-catching six-game winning streak in the top flight before being briefly halted by a goalless stalemate with Cambuur.

That did not damage the fortunes of Pascal Jansen's side, who instantly bounced back with a 2-1 win over title-chasing PSV Eindhoven, and they followed that up with a 4-1 thrashing of Go Ahead Eagles.

The Kaaskoppen now come into Sunday's match having won their last two league games 2-1, firstly seeing off Heracles before Jesper Karlsson netted a brace in a crucial win over third-placed Feyenoord, reducing the gap between Jensen's men and third place to just three points.

Although their most recent fixture ended as a 2-0 defeat to Ajax in the KNVB-Beker semi-final, AZ Alkmaar will hope to continue their strong run of form in the Eredivisie and give their hopes of a high finish another major boost with a victory.

NEC Eredivisie form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L

NEC form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L

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

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

Team News

NEC will likely be missing Jordy Bruijn and Javier Vet due to injuries, although Lasse Schone will return to contention after serving a suspension.

Elayis Tavsan, Ali Akman and Jonathan Okita could reform a dangerous front line, having each netted five Eredivisie goals this season.

AZ Alkmaar have no major absentees to note, and Jansen could deploy the same starting XI that beat Feyenoord in their last league game.

Winger Jesper Karlsson and striker Vangelis Pavlidis have both been key men going forward, netting 11 and 10 league goals respectively this campaign.

Elsewhere, Jordy Clasie and Fredrik Midtsjo should again partner up at the base of midfield with key man Dani de Wit set to support the front three.

NEC possible starting lineup:
Branderhorst; Rooij, Odenthal, Guth, Marquez; Proper, Elkarouani; Akman, Barreto, Okita; Tavsan

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Vindahl; Sugawara, Beukema, Martins Indi, Wijndal; Midtsjo, Clasie; Aboukhlal, Wit, Karlsson; Pavlidis


We say: NEC 1-2 AZ Alkmaar

While NEC have been impressive this term following a promotion, AZ Alkmaar pose a particularly tough test, and we see the hosts falling short of a result.

Jensen's men have been the form side of the division in recent months, and, after a cup defeat, they will be particularly desperate for another league win to extend their run.



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



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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1PSV EindhovenPSV17150259134645
2Ajax17123237162139
3FC UtrechtUtrecht1711333428636
4Feyenoord17105240211935
5AZ AlkmaarAZ17102531171432
6FC Twente1794432211131
7Go Ahead Eagles177463027325
8Fortuna SittardSittard177462525025
9Willem II176472119222
10NAC BredaNAC Breda177191927-822
11Heerenveen176381731-1421
12NECNijmegen1752102324-117
13PEC Zwolle174581626-1017
14Groningen164481426-1216
15Heracles163581833-1514
16Sparta RotterdamSparta172691426-1212
17Almere CityAlmere City1723121037-279
18RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk1714121841-237
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