FC Utrecht vs AZ Alkmaar - prediction, team news, lineups

The standout fixture of matchday 2 successful the 2026-27 Eredivisie play sees Utrecht invited AZ Alkmaar to Stadion Galgenwaard connected Saturday evening.

After a 2-1 decision successful past week’s opener, the hosts volition beryllium aiming to bounce backmost against visitors hoping to marque it 3 wins from 3 outings crossed each competitions this term.

Match preview

A tally of 4 consecutive draws to extremity past play was hardly the perfect decorativeness for AZ Alkmaar, whose disappointing tally saw them driblet retired of Champions League contention and decorativeness seventh, though they inactive secured Europa League shot acknowledgment to their KNVB Beker triumph.

Their cupful occurrence successful April besides acceptable up an aboriginal changeable astatine silverware successful the Johan Cruyff Shield, wherever Leeroy Echteld’s broadside delivered a connection of intent with a 4-0 demolition of Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven astatine the Philips Stadion.

As a result, galore expected De Kaasboeren’s league opener against ADO Den Haag to beryllium a regular win, but they had to hold until aft the hr people to interruption the deadlock, yet securing the triumph done goals from Ro-Zangelo Daal and Calvin Stengs.

AZ person won their opening 2 league matches successful 3 of the past 4 seasons and, with momentum connected their side, volition beryllium assured of edging past Utrecht. However, they are yet to to triumph an distant league crippled successful 5 attempts since February 2020.

With Saturday’s travel arguably their toughest trial successful the opening 7 gameweeks, AZ could usage a accelerated commencement successful their bid to extremity a 17-year rubric drought.

For the archetypal clip since 2023, Utrecht kicked disconnected a caller league play connected a losing enactment arsenic they came distant empty-handed from Sunday’s travel to look disconnected against Groningen contempt fashioning retired much clear-cut opportunities.

That effect was hardly a astonishment aft an underwhelming pre-season successful which De Domstedelingen mislaid 4 of 5 friendlies, with their lone triumph coming against recently promoted Cambuur.

Nonetheless, caller manager Anthony Correia was encouraged by his side's show astatine Euroborg Stadium and volition anticipation it translates into 3 points connected his authoritative location debut aft succeeding Ron Jans past month.

With Utrecht’s archetypal 4 matches coming against top-10 sides from 2024-25, they person an aboriginal accidental to involvement their assertion for continental qualification, having narrowly missed retired connected a spot successful the Conference League qualifiers to Ajax successful May.

Utrecht ended past play with six consecutive location wins, starting with a 2-0 triumph implicit AZ successful March. The hosts are besides unbeaten successful 7 of the past 8 meetings with the visitors, which should springiness them plentifulness of content heading into this weekend.

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

AZ Alkmaar signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Miliano Jonathan remains sidelined for Utrecht with an ACL injury, alongside chap semipermanent absentees Victor Jensen and Oualid Agougil, who are some retired with genu problems.

Neville Nwankwo, Vasilios Barkas, and Matisse Didden each missed the decision to Groningen owed to illness, leaving their engagement this play successful doubt.

Siebe Horemans was forced disconnected with an wounded past clip out, which could spot Guus Offerhaus travel into the starting XI this weekend.

Since joining AZ successful January, Jizz Hornkamp has endured an injury-hit spell and is inactive recovering from an ankle occupation that constricted him to conscionable 9 appearances successful the 2nd fractional of past season.

Denso Kasius is ruled retired with a groin injury, portion midfielders Jordy Clasie and Matej Sin are besides unavailable for the visitors.

FC Utrecht imaginable starting lineup:

Brouwer; Vesterlund, Offerhaus, Eerdhuijzen, Zagre; De Wit, Didden, Van Overeem; Alarcon, Min, Cathline

AZ Alkmaar imaginable starting lineup:

De Busser; Chavez, Schouten, Goes, Dijkstra; Koopmeiners, Kwakman; Daal, Smit, Weslley; Meerdink

We say: FC Utrecht 2-3 AZ Alkmaar

With this fixture producing 5-5 and 3-3 draws successful caller years, meetings betwixt Utrecht and AZ seldom disappoint successful presumption of entertainment, and Saturday’s clash should beryllium nary different.

That said, we are backing AZ to borderline this encounter, leaving Correia inactive searching for his archetypal triumph arsenic Utrecht boss.

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