AZ Alkmaar aim to end a dismal six-match losing streak against Feyenoord when both European hopefuls clash in Saturday's gameweek 28 Eredivisie contest at AFAS Stadion.
Maarten Martens's side, seeking a potential Champions League return after 16 years, trail their third-placed Rotterdam visitors - who occupy the third qualifying round spot heading into this weekend's fixtures - by seven points.
Match preview
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AZ may be in the KNVB Beker final, where they face Go Ahead Eagles, but the Cheese Farmers still hold hope of Champions League football next season via qualifying rounds.
While winning the domestic cup guarantees European participation in the Europa League, a competition the Alkmaar outfit featured in this term before exiting to Tottenham Hotspur, supporters will hope their side find some form in the closing weeks to revive fading hopes of finishing third, a position currently held by Feyenoord with 53 points, closely followed by Utrecht with 52.
However, De Kaasboeren's inability to secure clean sheets has hurt them lately, as evidenced by two 2-2 draws against Ajax and RKC Waalwijk either side of a 3-3 tie with NEC.
Now winless in four matches (three draws, one loss), Martens's men, who kept clean sheets in victories over Willem II (2-0), PEC Zwolle (2-0) and Fortuna Sittard (1-0) before the ongoing run without shutouts, aim to turn the tide by breaking a three-year winless streak against Saturday's opponents.
With seven games remaining, six after this round, failure to secure maximum points in this fixture since a 2-1 triumph in February 2022 would further diminish their already fading prospects of finishing third.
In-form Feyenoord look to reduce AZ's chances of overtaking them in the standings by avoiding defeat in this match-up for the seventh time in all competitions, with six of these coming in the Eredivisie.
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Although the reverse fixture ended 3-2 in favour of the Stadium Club, Feyenoord's recent performance, including three consecutive clean sheets in two top-flight meetings and one cup encounter, highlights their superiority in this match-up.
Nonetheless, the ongoing pattern under Robin van Persie suggests that Saturday's contest is likely to be high-scoring rather than dull.
After starting with three winless matches, in which Club of the People fired blanks against NEC (0-0) and suffered a 2-0 loss to Inter Milan before scoring in the reverse fixture in Milan — a 2-1 defeat — Van Persie's men have begun to thrive.
Feyenoord have now recorded three consecutive Eredivisie victories, scoring six against Twente (6-2), three against Go Ahead Eagles (3-2) and four in midweek against Groningen (4-1).
While no team has claimed as many as nine points or scored as much in the previous three rounds, a weak defence could hinder the away side's chances of achieving a fourth consecutive league win — a feat not accomplished since May 2024 during a six-match winning streak.
Although Feyenoord's priority is maintaining third place, a second-place finish remains possible with seven matches to play, as PSV, currently five points ahead of Van Persie's side, continues to falter.
Given that the second-placed team have lost two of their last four and secured just two wins in five top-flight matches, the Stadium Club will hope for another victory this weekend to increase the pressure on the team above them.
Team News
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AZ have several injury concerns ahead of Saturday's match: Jayden Addai, Seiya Maikuma, Sem Westerveld and Mayckel Lahdo will be evaluated, while Jordy Clasie, Lewis Schouten and Sven Mijnans are unlikely to play this weekend.
Although Troy Parrott could not add to his three match-winning goals in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Waalwijk, the forward recorded his 14th Eredivisie strike this season and ranks as the second-highest goalscorer — only FC Twente's Sem Steijn (22) has more.
The visitors will evaluate injuries to Thomas Beelen, Bart Nieuwkoop, Calvin Stengs, Chris-Kevin Nadje, Justin Bijlow and Quinten Timber.
Feyenoord's Igor Paixao matches Parrott's tally of three game-winning goals despite scoring two fewer; the Brazilian, who has scored in three consecutive matches and delivered match-winners in back-to-back league games against Go Ahead Eagles and Groningen, looks to outshine his counterpart in round 28's contest.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu-Oduro; Dijstra, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Koopmeiners, Buurmeester; Sadiq, Smit, De Wit; Parrott
Feyenoord possible starting lineup:
Wellenreuther; Read, Trauner, Hancko, Smal; Hwang, Moder; Moussa, Milambo, Paixao; Carranza
We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-3 Feyenoord
With AZ's last four Eredivisie games averaging 4.5 goals and Feyenoord's previous three averaging 6.0 goals, Saturday's contest promises to be thrilling.
The visitors, supported by an in-form forward in Paixao, who has netted in three straight games — including a hat-trick in the 6-2 win at Twente before notching back-to-back match-winners — are expected to narrowly win and secure a seventh straight victory over their Alkmaar hosts.
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