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[monks data]
AZ Alkmaar
Eredivisie | Gameweek 16
Dec 17, 2023 at 7pm UK
AFAS Stadion
PSV

AZ
0 - 4
PSV


van Bommel (45+1'), Goudmijn (77')
FT(HT: 0-3)
de Jong (9' pen., 57'), Saibari (11'), Dest (16')

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

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

PSV Eindhoven will be bidding to make it 16 successive victories in the Eredivisie when they travel to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.

While the visitors hold a 10-point lead in first place, AZ are in third in the standings and motivated to respond to their early elimination from Europe.


Match preview

PSV Eindhoven's Yorbe Vertessen celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on December 12, 2023© Reuters

No-one at PSV will be deeming this season to be successful unless they deliver silverware, but that looks more and more likely with each passing week.

Last week's 2-0 victory over Heerenveen extended their winning streak in the Dutch top flight to 15 matches, PSV conceding just six times during that period.

Peter Bosz will have few concerns that his team have scored just five times in their last three outings with fixtures against Feyenoord and Arsenal also being played.

Although Tuesday's meeting with Arsenal was essentially a Champions League dead-rubber with both teams having already qualified for the last 16, PSV would have wanted to show the Premier League giants their capabilities, and they did just that in a 1-1 draw.

PSV have now gone 16 matches unbeaten in all competitions since losing 4-0 to Arsenal in the reverse fixture in England, but Bosz and his team will recognise that their upcoming encounter remains one of the most difficult on their domestic calendar.

AZ Alkmaar coach Pascal Jansen before the match on October 26, 2023© Reuters

That is despite AZ disappointingly bowing out of the Europa Conference league at the group stage as they went down 2-0 against Legia Warsaw in Poland.

After last season's run to the semi-finals, Pascal Jansen suffers a considerable hit to his stock at AZ, but he will hope that it proves to be a blessing in disguise in their effort to finish in the top three.

In all competitions, AZ have won just three of their last 10 games, with the victories in question coming in home fixtures against FC Volendam, Zrinjski Mostar and Almere City.

With just 10 goals being conceded in 15 Eredivisie outings in 2023-24, they will hope to withstand PSV's attacking threat at a ground where they have 19 points from eight games.

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:


AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):


PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie form:


PSV Eindhoven form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D



Team News

PSV Eindhoven coach Peter Bosz reacts on November 29, 2023© Reuters

With first-choice goalkeeper Mathew Ryan sustaining an eye injury last weekend, Rome Owusu-Oduro could be handed a second successive outing between the sticks.

Jens Odgaard may return to the starting lineup, particularly having provided two assists against Almere City in the most recent Eredivisie fixture.

Djordje Mihailovic and Ruben van Bommel will also hope to return in the final third after dropping out versus Legia Warsaw.

Bosz will revert back to a similar PSV XI that started the Heerenveen game after choosing to make changes for the Arsenal fixture.

Sergino Dest, Olivier Boscagli and Luuk de Jong should all return, while Yorbe Vertessen has put himself in contention with a goal against the Gunners.


AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu-Oduro; Sugawara, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Dantas; Odgaard, Mihailovic, Van Bommel; Pavlidis

PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Dest, Ramalho, Boscagli, Van Aanholt; Til, Veerman, Saibari; Bakayoko, De Jong, Tillman


SM words green background

We say: AZ Alkmaar 1-3 PSV Eindhoven

Jansen will be eager for his players to record a statement result, one which will help ease any pressure on his shoulders. Nevertheless, we cannot back against a rampant PSV who we feel will thoroughly outclass one of their rivals for the title.


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


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Game History

How you voted: AZ vs PSV

AZ Alkmaar
23.8%
Draw
4.8%
PSV Eindhoven
71.4%
21
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPSV EindhovenPSV332841108208888
2Feyenoord33256288266281
3FC Twente33206767353266
4AZ AlkmaarAZ33197767363164
5Ajax331510872591355
6NECNijmegen331311964501450
7FC UtrechtUtrecht331310104644249
8Sparta RotterdamSparta33137134947246
9Go Ahead Eagles331110124545043
10Heerenveen33107165268-1637
11Fortuna SittardSittard33910143756-1937
12PEC Zwolle3399154465-2136
13Almere CityAlmere City33713133255-2334
14Heracles3395194174-3332
15RKC WaalwijkRKC Waalwijk3378183753-1629
16SBV ExcelsiorExcelsior33611165069-1929
RFC VolendamVolendam3347223386-5319
RVitesse3365222872-445


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