AZvs.Heerenveen

Match preview

In keeping with their explosive start last time out, AZ Alkmaar have also flown out of the blocks this term to emerge as strong contenders to PSV Eindhoven's quest for a second straight league title.

Consecutive 1-0 victories over Almere City and NEC were followed by a goalless stalemate against Groningen before Maarten Martens's men returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 triumph at the expense of RKC Waalwijk.

Having amassed 10 points from a possible 12, De Kaasboeren are currently second in the Eredivisie table, level on points with FC Utrecht and two adrift of early pacesetters and defending champions PSV.

AZ are also the only side in the Dutch top flight yet to concede a goal so far and will fancy themselves to continue that defensive solidity against an opposing outfit who have failed to score in three of the last five editions of this fixture.

With no continental commitment on the horizon until the final week of September, Saturday's hosts now set out to maintain their near-perfect start as they look to gain domestic supremacy for the first time since 2009.

Heerenveen have had a mixed start to the campaign so far, with one defeat, one draw and one victory apiece from their three involvements to leave them with four points on the board.

Taking charge of only his third official game as manager, Robin van Persie finally picked up his first win, and in some style too, as goals from Simon Olsson, Luuk Brouwers and Ion Nicolaescu (two) secured a convincing 4-0 triumph over newcomers NAC Breda.

While fans of De Superfriezen would have been impressed by their team's second-half four-goal haul in the aforementioned game, it was also a first clean sheet in seven competitive outings.

Victory over Breda has seen Heerenveen move up to 10th place in the standings, just one point outside the final European place despite having played a game less due to FC Twente's involvement in the preliminary Champions League qualifiers.

A chance to record consecutive league victories for the first time since early March now awaits Saturday's visitors ahead of their rescheduled round-three encounter on Tuesday.

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:

Team News

Bruno Martins Indi and Jeroen Zoet are both ruled out for AZ Alkmaar with muscle injuries, while fellow Dutchman Mees de Wit is yet to recuperate from a knee problem.

Sam Westerveld and Lewis Schouten also miss out due to foot and thigh injuries respectively, but the latter is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action.

Following his double against Waalwijk, Ruben van Bommel has now netted four times in as many league matches this term, making him one to keep an eye on.

Defender Mateja Milovanovic could be in line to feature here after making his comeback from a knee problem while on international duty with the Ukraine Under-21s.

However, 27-year-old Amara Conde will not play any part for the away side this weekend as he sits out a fourth straight game through injury.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Owusu-Oduro; Wolfe, Penetra, Goes, Maikuma; Koopmeiners, Clasie; Van Bommel, Mijnans, Sadiq; Parrott

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Van der Hart; Braude, Kersten, Bochniewicz, Kohlert; Van Ee, Olsson; Trenskow, Brouwers, Sebaoui; Karlsbakk

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Heerenveen

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