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

The hosts lost in midweek in their Europa Conference League clash with Apollon Limassol, while the visitors are unbeaten in their last four outings in all competitions.

Match preview

AZ Alkmaar's five-game unbeaten run came to an end on Thursday night, as they lost 1-0 to Apollon Limassol in the Europa Conference League, spoiling their perfect start to the competition in the process.

The Group E leaders must wait to confirm at least second place in their group after going down to Valentin Roberge's winner for Apollon in Nicosia, the Eredivisie table-toppers being beaten for only the second occasion in all competitions this term.

Nevertheless, Pascal Jansen's side remain unbeaten in the league, one point ahead of Ajax in second place.

Prior to the defeat in Nicosia, AZ beat FC Utrecht 2-1 away from home to make it five straight victories in all competitions as goals from Myron van Brederode and Yukinari Sugawara secured the three points for Jansen's side.

The hosts have won two and drawn two out of the four league games played at the AFAS Stadion so far this season, conceding three goals in those matches.

A victory here would strengthen their place at the top of the division, while creating a six-point lead over their opponents on Sunday.

For the second week in a row, Feyenoord were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Midtjylland took the lead through Emiliano Martinez's excellent strike, before Quinten Timber fired Feyenoord level.

David Hancko found the net early in the second-half to restore Feyenoord's advantage, however, the lead only lasted 10 minutes before Erik Sviatchenko headed in from a free kick by Evander to make it 2-2.

That result leaves Arne Slot's side on five points, which is the same amount as the other three teams in Group F, although the Dutch outfit are top due to goal difference.

Back home, Feyenoord remain fourth in the Eredivisie standings, three points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar ahead of the sides' clash this weekend.

The visitors ended a three-match winless run across all competitions in style courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 victory over 10-man FC Twente on Sunday.

The Rotterdam outfit will be eager to pick up their first three points on the road since their 4-3 victory over Go Ahead Eagles back on September 3.

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

D

W

D

W

W

W

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

L

Feyenoord Eredivisie form:

W

W

W

L

D

W

Feyenoord form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

D

Team News

Vangelis Pavlidis is unavailable for AZ Alkmaar here due to a leg injury which has seen him fail to feature since the final week of August.

The home side are also set to be without Hakon Evjen, who is set to miss an eighth straight match with an ankle problem.

Bruno Martins Indi still has not recovered from the setback he suffered against Ajax, and will be absent once again here.

Meanwhile, Oussama Idrissi missed Feyenoord's draw with Midtjylland in midweek, and looks on course to miss out again this weekend.

Arne Slot opted for Santiago Gimenez up front for Feyenoord's previous two outings, but he has fired blanks in both games, so Slot may choose to shake things up and give Danilo the nod here.

David Hancko has scored in his last two games, so he looks set to retain his place in the backline of the visitors.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Verhulst; Chatzidiakos, Beukema, Dekker, Kerkez; Reijnders, De Wit, Clasie; Sugawara, Odgaard, Van Brederode

Feyenoord possible starting lineup:

Bijlow; Pedersen, Trauner, Rasmussen, Hancko; Geertruida, Timber, Kokcu; Dilrosun, Danilo, Szymanski

We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-2 Feyenoord

Both sides have been sharp in front of goal so far this season, so we think both sides will be on the scoresheet at the weekend.

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