Preview: Heracles vs. AZ Alkmaar - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides head into the game off the back of respective defeats in their last outings and will be looking to give an immediate response.

Match preview

In search of a first home league win of the season, AZ Alkmaar were thrashed 3-0 by PSV Eindhoven on Saturday when the teams faced off.

Goals from Olivier Boscagli and second-half substitutes Yorbe Vertessen and Ritsu Doan put Pascal Jansen's men to the sword at the AFAS Stadion.

With three points from as many games this term, the Cheeseheads are currently hovering above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Next up for them is a trip to an opposing side who they have beaten in all but two of the last 17 meetings between the teams dating back to 2008.

Sunday's visitors, who played out a 2-2 draw against Danish side Randers in their Conference League curtain-raiser on Thursday, now seek to kickstart their domestic campaign.

Heracles were not in action during the last gameweek as their clash with Feyenoord which was initially scheduled to be played on Sunday later got called off.

Frank Wormuth's men remain bottom but one on the standings but just like AZ, they also now have a game in hand on majority of the teams in and around them.

Saturday's hosts, who suffered defeats to PSV and newly-promoted NEC in their previous two outings on home turf, are set for another baptism of fire this weekend.

The Almelo-based outfit did not find the back of the net in any of the aforementioned games and getting on the score sheet this time around would be a step in the right direction.

Heracles Eredivisie form:

Heracles form (all competitions):

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

Team News

Newly-signed forward Kaj Sierhuis is unavailable for the game due to a groin injury which he picked up while in action for former club Reims.

Sinan Bakis was given his marching orders in Heracles' last domestic outing and the 27-year-old is suspended for this weekend's contest.

AZ's Vangelis Pavlidis has been directly involved in three goals in his last three matches away from home, making him one to keep an eye on.

Owen Wijndal has made a full recovery from a groin problem and is expected to keep his place in the side after featuring in each of the visitors' last two games.

Due to his side's involvement in midweek, Pascal Jansen might be tempted to rest a couple of his first-team regulars in a bid to field a well-rested XI.

Heracles possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Roosken, Knoester, Schoofs, Fadiga; De La Torre, Kiomourtzoglou, Vloet; Laursen, Burgzorg, Basacikoglu

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Wijndal, Martins Indi, Chatzidiakos, Sugawara; Midtsjo, Clasie, De Wit; Aboukhlal, Pavlidis, Gudmundsson

We say: Heracles 1-3 AZ Alkmaar

Both sides have made a far from ideal start to the new season but there is still enough time for both sides to put things right. AZ are favorites for this one due to the gulf in squad quality and we are backing them to claim all three points at the end of the 90 minutes.