Groningen and AZ Alkmaar will put their perfect 2024-25 Eredivisie records on the line when they face off at Euroborg in the opening match of Sunday's league action.
Both teams have made the perfect start to the new season and are two of only four teams in the division that will enter gameweek three with six points taken from their first two matches.
Match preview
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After earning promotion back to the Eredivisie at the first time of asking, Groningen could not have asked for a better start to life in the top flight as they find themselves in the top three after two matches.
The Pride of the North kicked off the new season with a thumping 4-1 home win over fellow newly promoted outfit NAC Breda and followed up with a 2-1 win over RKC Waalwijk last weekend.
Dick Lukkien's side also had a very impressive pre-season, during which they maintained an unbeaten record across three friendlies (W2 D1 L0), with one of those victories coming against Heracles at the start of this month.
With those results, Groningen are unbeaten in their last 17 matches in all competitions, dating back to their 2-1 KNVB Cup loss to Feyenoord at the end of February on the road.
At home, the Green and White Army are unbeaten in their last 20 matches stretching back to September last year (W14 D6 L0), while they also maintained clean sheets in half of those games.
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However, the obvious factor to consider is that the majority of those matches were in the Eerste Divisie, and the first two games of this season were against a newly promoted opponent and a side that escaped the drop by a single point last term.
Thus, this weekend's fixture represents the hosts' most difficult assignment in a long while, up against an AZ Alkmaar side that ended last season very impressively and were also unbeaten in pre-season against the likes of Atalanta, Le Havre and Stoke City.
De Kaaskoppen have won both their matches this season by a 1-0 scoreline, first away to Almere City before a home win over NEC last week. They are one of only two teams along with Fortuna Sittard that are yet to concede a goal this season.
Maarten Martens's side also ended last term unbeaten with four straight wins and a draw in their final five matches, and their defence has not been breached on the road since PSV smashed five past them back in April.
When these sides met in the top flight in the 2022-23 season, AZ won both fixtures, securing a 1-0 victory at home just a few months after running out 4-1 winners at this venue.
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Team News
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Academy graduate Jorg Schreuders has caught the eye for Groningen in his first top-flight season, scoring in both matches so far, and he will almost certainly keep his spot on the right flank.
Thom van Bergen is expected to lead the line after opening his account last weekend, while the absentees for the hosts include Fofin Turay and Romano Postema, who are ruled out through injury.
Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar will have to make do without the services of Maxim Deker, who was sent off just 18 minutes into the new season and still ineligible for selection.
Alexandre Penetra will likely slot into defence alongside Wouter Goes, while Deker will be joined on the sideline by Sem Westerveld who is facing a lengthy absence due to a serious knee injury.
Groningen possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Bacuna, Rente, Peersman, Stam; Schreuders, Hove, De Jonge, Valente; Van Bergen, Mendes
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Sadiq, Mijnans, Van Brederode; Parrott
We say: Groningen 0-1 AZ Alkmaar
While Groningen have won both matches this season, it is worth pointing out that their opponents in those matches were reduced to 10 men, which helped swing matters in their favour. If AZ can keep a full contingent on the pitch, we feel they will be able to come away with the points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
