In an all top-flight clash in the third round of the KNVB Beker, Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar will hope to progress by beating Ajax on Tuesday at AFAS Stadion.
The hosts overcame Eredivisie side Groningen 3-1 in the previous round on December 18, while their opponents defeated second-tier team Telstar 2-0 on December 19.
Match preview
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AZ were eliminated from KNVB Beker at the quarter-final stage last term when they were beaten 2-0 by Feyenoord on February 7, 2024.
The home team have won the tournament four times, though the last of these triumphs came in 2012-13, and it is still the last trophy that the club have won.
Boss Maarten Martens will be disappointed that his team are currently sixth in the Eredivisie with 33 points after 18 matchweeks and are currently on track to record 62 points, three fewer than they achieved last season.
Martens may feel confident that his side can overcome Ajax given they defeated their opponents 2-1 on December 8 in the Eredivisie, and it should be noted that the club are also unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, winning six in that period.
AZ have also been victorious in their four most recent home outings, winning by a cumulative score of 7-2.
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As for Ajax, they were eliminated from the KNVB Beker in 2023-24 when they lost 3-2 against USV Hercules on December 21, 2023.
Current manager Francesco Farioli became the club's first foreign head coach since Morten Olsen in the 1997-98 campaign, and he has brought a degree of stability after the turbulence of last season, which saw the club dismiss Maurice Steijn and cycle through a number of caretaker bosses.
De Godenzonen are second in the league with 42 points from 18 games - four points fewer than first-placed PSV Eindhoven - and are on track to record 79 points, significantly more than the 56 points they tallied in 2023-24.
Farioli's side have won each of their last four matches, keeping a clean sheet in three of those fixtures while conceding just once.
However, it should be noted that Ajax's form away from home is mixed considering they have won two, drawn one and lost two of their past five games on the road.
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Team News
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AZ's injury list is not extensive, but they do have doubts about the availability of attacking midfielder Kees Smit, as well as midfielder Kristijan Belic and goalkeeper Sem Westerveld.
It would not be surprising if the hosts fielded a similar starting XI to the team that beat Ajax earlier this season, so perhaps goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet will be protected by centre-backs Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra.
Peer Koopmeiners may be joined in midfield by Sven Mijnans and Jordy Clasie, while striker Troy Parrot could be flanked by Ernest Poku and Ruben van Bommel.
Ajax have concerns about forward Amourricho van Axel Dongen, and if he is not ready to start on Tuesday, the visitors could name an attack featuring Steven Berghuis, Brian Brobbey and Mika Godts.
Defenders Gaston Avila and Josip Sutalo are also doubts, so expect Jorrel Hato, Youri Baas, Daniele Rugani and Devyne Rensch to shield goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Zoet; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Koopmeiners, Mijnans, Clasie; Poku, Parrott, Van Bommel
Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Rugani, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Taylor; Berghuis, Brobbey, Godts
We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Ajax
Given that both teams are in strong form, Tuesday's clash is likely to be a closely fought contest, with neither team keeping a clean sheet.
However, considering that AZ are at home and that the visitors do not boast the best record on the road, as well as that they have already beaten Ajax, the hosts should be favourites to advance.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
