AZ vs Telstar – News and Probable Lineups

Aiming for a spot in the 2025-26 KNVB Beker final, AZ Alkmaar will host Telstar at the AFAS Stadion on Wednesday evening.

The two teams had differing outcomes in their previous league matches, with AZ falling 2-0 to FC Utrecht while Telstar enjoyed a convincing win against NAC Breda.

Match overview

Last season, AZ was a strong contender in the Dutch Cup final, but they suffered a penalty shootout loss to Go Ahead Eagles, leaving them still waiting for a trophy in this competition for 12 years.

During this period, Leeroy Echteld’s squad has finished as runners-up three times, the highest number tied with Ajax, who have, however, secured two titles in 2019 and 2021.

This season, De Kaasboeren has had a commendable cup journey, overcoming PEC Zwolle (3-1) and Ajax (6-0) in the initial rounds before narrowly defeating FC Twente 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals.

The 2-0 defeat to Utrecht on Sunday halted AZ’s two-match winning streak, but they will be optimistic about bouncing back at home, having lost just once in their last 11 home fixtures (W6, D4) leading into Wednesday.

Historically, AZ has the upper hand with five wins from their last six encounters against Telstar, although it’s important to remember that the hosts faced defeat in their only prior cup showdown in October 2015.

This season has proven challenging for Telstar since their top-flight return, but progress in the KNVB Beker could alleviate the possible frustration of relegation back to the Eerste Divisie.

Nevertheless, Anthony Correia’s side remain hopeful of staying up. Their 3-0 victory over NAC Breda on Friday – marking their first win in four matches – has brought them within five points of safety with nine league games left.

De Witte Leeuwen are yet to achieve consecutive wins since the year began, and that trend needs to change if they aspire to reach their first final and contend for a major trophy next month.

Telstar makes the trip to Alkmaar without a victory from their last four away games, but they will take heart from the fact that their first three cup victories this season came on the road, followed by a 2-1 home success over reigning champions Go Ahead Eagles in the quarter-finals.

In the current KNVB Beker edition, Wednesday’s visiting team has netted the most goals (14) and will likely need to deliver another top-notch attacking performance to secure a win at an away venue where they last recorded a clean sheet back in 1994.

Team News

AZ’s Troy Parrott, who is second in the cup scoring list, will aim to avoid his first three-match goal drought since early December.

Jordy Clasie and Denso Kasius will miss Wednesday’s fixture due to ankle injuries sustained in September and November respectively.

Japanese international Seiya Maikuma is also unavailable, while Mateo Chavez’s participation is uncertain after missing the last two outings.

Following the loan of Milan Zonneveld, the KNVB Beker’s top scorer with five goals, to Sparta Rotterdam, Telstar will need a new attacking threat.

Adil Lechkar and Kay Tejan are set to miss out for the visitors, but Tyrone Owusu is back in the squad after a brief appearance against Breda recently.

AZ Alkmaar probable starting XI:

Owusu-Oduro; De Wit, Penetra, Goes, Van Duijl; Koopmeiners, Boogaard; Jensen, Smit, Oufkir; Parrott

Telstar probable starting XI:

Koeman; Bakker, Offerhaus, Nwankwo; Hardeveld, Rossen, Hatenboer, Alders; Brouwer, Van de Kamp, Thorisson

Having let in goals in eight consecutive matches, AZ’s defence appears vulnerable at the moment, making it unlikely for them to keep Telstar from scoring.

Nevertheless, we anticipate that the hosts will manage to secure a straightforward victory over their opponents and book a place in April’s final against either NEC or PSV Eindhoven.