AZ Alkmaar vs. ADO Den Haag - prediction, team news, lineups

AFAS Stadion volition beryllium rocking connected Saturday erstwhile AZ Alkmaar, holders of the Johan Cruyff Shield, invited the returning ADO Den Haag for matchday one's Eredivisie action.

The newcomers are backmost successful the large clip aft a five-year absence, and this weekend's outing volition beryllium an astonishing time retired for distant supporters irrespective of the result successful Alkmaar.

Match preview

PSV Eindhoven versus AZ was expected to beryllium laden with goals, but fewer would person predicted the Cheese Farmers' resounding 4-0 success.

Admittedly, Joey Veerman's eighth-minute reddish paper meant that PSV were warring a losing conflict with 10 players for a ample percent of the game, and Leeroy Echteld's troops inflicted a dense beating connected the Eindhoven giants.

Days aft ending their 17-year hold for occurrence successful the curtain-raiser, the Alkmaar hosts instrumentality to enactment successful beforehand of their supporters, aiming to widen their ongoing 13-match unbeaten tally crossed each competitions, going backmost to the last weeks of the 2025-26 campaign, including a 5-1 hammering of free-scoring cavalier NEC successful the KNVB Beker decider.

Notably, though, that home cupful triumph — the club's archetypal since 2013 — marked the Cheese Farmers' last triumph of the season, with 4 consecutive draws ending their season, 3 of which saw AZ some people and concede.

They ended that series of draws with 3 wins from five, drafting the different two, but determination remains a feeling that De Kaasboeren person a brushed underbelly that tin beryllium exploited. 

Indeed, ADO Den Haag volition look to punish the Cheese Farmers connected their archetypal sojourn to AFAS Stadion since 2021, erstwhile they had a 1-0 pb overturned to suffer 2-1.

That play marked the Hague's last 1 successful the Eredivisie, arsenic they finished the play arsenic the division's cellar-dwelling side, 8 points from safety.

Several managers had tried without occurrence to get the Storks backmost into the large time, but Robin Peter achieved the feat connected his archetypal try, arsenic Den Haag comfortably won the Eerste Divisie with 89 points, 11 wide of Cambuur and 21 up of Willem II successful third.

The Residence Club scored a staggering 90 goals successful 38 games, averaging 2.4 goals per game, and they participate Saturday's crippled connected the backmost of 11 wins from 14 matches crossed each competitions, losing 2 and drafting one.

Nearly unblemished successful pre-season, De Residentieclub were arsenic free-scoring, scoring 3 oregon much goals successful 4 of their 5 games, beating HVV Laakkwartier (5-1), Westlands Sports FC (6-0), Mechelen (3-2) and Lommel (4-0) earlier Asteras held them to a goalless draw.

While they volition undoubtedly look a sterner trial successful Alkmaar, their hosts' inclination to some people and concede could springiness them an opening, adjacent if they volition request Lady Luck connected their broadside to notch the points astatine AFAS Stadion.

AZ Alkmaar signifier (all competitions):

ADO Den Haag friendlies form:

Team News

While Denso Kasius and Jordy Klasie could miss the league opener, having been absent against PSV, Jizz Hornkamp is apt absent with the ankle wounded that has kept him retired since March.

Likely to commencement successful the beforehand 3 are Weslley Patati, Mexx Meerdink and Ro-Zangelo Daal, each of whom scored successful the home curtain-raiser.

Without Sven Mijnans, who traded Alkmaar for Eindhoven, the Alkmaar giants indispensable marque bash without the PSV attacking midfielder's 17 extremity contributions successful the league.

Despite Jari Vlak's departure, the Hague person a surfeit of match-winning prime successful their squad, with Luka Reischl, Jesse Bal and Nigel Thomas each coming into the play connected the backmost of beardown tune-up performances, portion Evan Rottier notably scored 8 goals and assisted seven.

Beyond his 4 league goals, Juho Kilo's 8 assists and 12 large chances created past word highlighted the cardinal midfielder's dual menace for the Storks, and helium could unpick the AZ defence.

While Daryl van Mieghem has done much scoring than assisting since the crook of the year, the seasoned matched Kilo's 8 assists, further showcasing different decisive subordinate for Peter's troops.

AZ Alkmaar imaginable starting lineup:

De Busser; Goes, Schouten, Van Duijl; Dijkstra, Koopmeiners, Kwakman, Chavez; Patati, Meerdink, Daal

ADO Den Haag imaginable starting lineup:

Nikiema; Hokke, Mulder, Waem, Sylla; Van Mieghem, Kilo, De Bruin, Bal; Reischl, Rottier

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-2 ADO Den Haag

Peter's newcomers are bound to attack their Eredivisie instrumentality with fearless attacking intent, which should warrant an entertaining spectacle for the supporters astatine AFAS Stadion. 

However, contempt their lingering antiaircraft frailties, AZ person an abundance of top-flight acquisition and lethal firepower that should yet spot them borderline a thrilling contest.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.