AZ vs NAC Breda – News and Probable Lineups

AZ Alkmaar aims to break their recent streak of draws when they host already-relegated NAC Breda at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday for the concluding match of the 2025–26 Eredivisie season, which is essentially a meaningless fixture.

The Cheese Farmers have managed to draw their last three matches, a sequence that has effectively dashed their aspirations for a top-three finish, while the 17th-placed Pearl of the South finds themselves four points behind the relegation playoff position.

Match overview

AZ secured their spot in European competitions for the seventh season in a row by defeating NEC in the KNVB Beker final on April 19, although at that point they still had ambitions for a top-three position and Champions League qualification.

However, that goal has since faded for Lee-Roy Echteld’s team, who drew against Go Ahead Eagles and Twente before last weekend’s 1-1 stalemate at Feyenoord, where Troy Parrott gave AZ an early advantage, only for Anis Hadj Moussa to equalize in the 57th minute.

This result leaves the Cheese Farmers in sixth place in the Eredivisie, four points behind Ajax in fifth, indicating that the Alkmaar side is poised for their lowest finish since coming sixth in the 2016–17 season.

In fact, AZ could potentially finish as low as eighth, with FC Utrecht and Heerenveen just a point behind, which adds some motivation to secure a home victory to end the campaign on a positive note.

A return to AFAS Stadion provides cause for optimism, as Echteld’s team has won four of their last five league games there, scoring at least two goals in each, the only exception being a 2–2 draw against third-placed Twente.

NAC Breda put an end to an eight-match winless streak (D4, L4) with a 2–0 win over Heerenveen last weekend, where Boy Kemper netted twice, once before half-time and once after, although their relegation was confirmed by other results prior to the match conclusion, marking the end of their two-year stay in the Eredivisie.

This match also marked the first time since early March that Carl Hoefkens’ team scored more than once in a game, and they will seek to carry this attacking momentum into their final fixture against one of the league’s better sides.

Nonetheless, achieving this may be challenging due to NAC’s away form, with only 12 goals scored across 16 league matches on the road, winning just one of those outings (D5, L10).

The historical head-to-head record offers little encouragement, as NAC has lost nine of their last ten Eredivisie encounters with AZ, which includes a 1–0 defeat in this season’s earlier match, although their most recent visit to Alkmaar ended in a 1–1 draw.

Team News

AZ will continue to be without the services of forward Jizz Hornkamp, who has been out of action since March, while defender Denso Kasius is a significant doubt after missing the last two matches, and midfielder Kees Smit might also miss another game.

Parrott’s goal against Feyenoord brings his total to 16 league goals this season, and the Irish attacker will be looking to improve his standing on the scoring charts.

Left-back Mees de Wit has been pivotal this season, leading the club’s assist leaderboard alongside Sven Mijnans with five assists.

For NAC, center-back Leo Greiml remains unavailable due to a shoulder injury, while right-back Boyd Lucassen is also out.

Midfielder Mohamed Nassoh is serving the second match of a three-game suspension, and Raul Paula is a notable doubt after missing the last match.

Hoefkens may choose to stick with the lineup that recorded a win last weekend, featuring Moussa Soumano and Andre Ayew at the front in a two-man attack, with Lewis Holtby playing just behind, while Kemper – who scored twice last weekend – is likely to continue at left wing-back.

AZ Alkmaar probable starting XI:

Owusu-Oduro; Dijkstra, Goes, Penetra, Chavez; Clasie, Merchants; Dall, Mijnans, Jensen; Parrott

NAC Breda probable starting XI:

Bielica; Odoi, Mahmutovic, Hillen; Kemper, Balard, Holtby, Valerius; Sowah; Ayew, Soumano

Though the match has minimal impact, AZ will want to avoid dropping further in the standings and should be driven to finish strongly in front of their home crowd.

Meanwhile, NAC will be eager to conclude their top-flight campaign on a high note following last weekend’s victory, but the attacking prowess of the hosts at AFAS Stadion is expected to be the key factor.