AZ vs FC Twente – News and Probable Lineups

AZ Alkmaar will face FC Twente at AFAS Stadion this Sunday in an Eredivisie Matchday 10 clash, featuring the second-placed team taking on the fifth-placed side.

Leeroy Echteld’s squad comes into this match following a tough week of traveling throughout Europe, while John van den Brom’s men will look to bridge the three-point gap that exists between the two teams.

Both managers have had to balance domestic league commitments with European competition in October, and this dual focus is likely to influence their team selections for this fixture at AFAS Stadion.

Match overview

AZ currently occupies the second spot in the Eredivisie standings with 20 points from nine fixtures, trailing leaders Feyenoord by three points after suffering a 2-0 defeat at De Kuip on October 10, where Nacho Ferri and Javi Lopez capitalized on an exposed AZ defense.

In response, Echteld’s team secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home against Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa League just three days later, with Peer Koopmeiners breaking the deadlock after halftime, followed by Mexx Meerdink converting a penalty after Forson Amankwah equalized.

This Europa League win came amidst a backdrop of local strife, as the municipality of Alkmaar banned traveling Hapoel supporters from attending the match due to security concerns, leaving the away section completely vacant at kickoff.

AZ then drew 2-2 against SC Cambuur, relinquishing leads twice in a result that prevented them from claiming a fourth Eredivisie victory in five matches.

A trip to Armenia to play against Ararat-Armênia in the Europa League resulted in a comfortable 4-0 win on Thursday, capping a series of four matches in just 11 days, and Echteld is expected to make adjustments to his lineup for the encounter against Twente.

Meanwhile, Twente travels to Alkmaar sitting in fifth place with 17 points, trailing AZ by three points and two positions after completing nine Eredivisie matches themselves.

Van den Brom’s side was defeated 1-2 at home by FC Utrecht last weekend, a result that interrupted the momentum they had built from a strong start to the season under the experienced coach.

This loss came just three days after a routine continental match, where van den Brom’s squad managed a narrow 1-0 win over FC Thun in the Conference League, thanks to Ramiz Zerrouki’s goal in the second half at De Grolsch Veste.

The Swiss team played with 10 men for the final thirty minutes of that European encounter due to a disputed red card, and Twente’s 22 shots compared to Thun’s six conveyed their superiority, suggesting the scoreline could have been more decisive.

In the league, Twente’s solid form can be traced back to a 3-2 victory over PSV Eindhoven on September 20, before they stumbled with a draw and a defeat in their two most recent Eredivisie encounters.

Marko Pjaca and Wout Weghorst lead Twente’s scoring chart this season with six goals each, highlighting how important their partnership is to the team’s attacking capabilities.

Team News

Stije Resink is a long-term absentee due to a knee injury that has kept him out since March, and Jizz Hornkamp and Kees Smit will also miss this match.

Despite the close timeline following Thursday’s away fixture in Yerevan, Echteld is expected to maintain the core players who were pivotal in the European match.

For Twente, goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, midfielder Max Bruns, and defender Stav Lemkin all missed the home defeat to Utrecht due to injuries.

The upcoming Conference League match against Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar puts additional strain on Van den Brom’s squad, and any players carrying minor injuries from that competition will need assessment before the final lineup is announced on Sunday.

AZ Alkmaar probable starting XI:

De Busser; Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, Chavez; Clasie, Koopmeiners, Oufkir; Stems, Daal, Meridink

FC Twente probable starting XI:

Drommel; Van Rooij, Propper, Nijstad, Adelgaard; Zerrouki, Weidmann; D. Rock, Taha, Pjaca; Weghorst

AZ’s advantage at home, coupled with their superior squad depth, should become evident over the course of the match, even with the fatigue accumulated from four matches in just 11 days.

Twente’s forward line, centered around Pjaca and Weghorst, possesses enough talent to pose challenges for a weary AZ defense and potentially find the net themselves, but AZ’s record of three wins from their last five league meetings with Twente indicates a likely narrow victory for the hosts in Alkmaar.

Given both teams’ extensive continental commitments in midweek, a cautious start to the match seems probable, with AZ having one extra day of rest compared to Twente’s trip to Gibraltar which may influence the final stages of the matchup.