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

On the other hand, the visitors make the trip aiming to snap a dismal run of four games across all competitions since their last victory three weeks ago.

Match preview

AZ Alkmaar were knocked out of the quarter-final of the KNVB Beker following a 2-0 defeat against Feyenoord in Tuesday's heavyweight meeting at De Kuip.

Maarten Martens's men trailed to Lutsharel Geertruida's opener on the stroke of half time after which Bart Nieuwkoop sealed the deal late on.

Just before that, the Cheeseheads fell to a 1-0 loss against Feyenoord and remain fourth in the Eredivisie table, level on points with Ajax in fifth.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have lost all three previous editions of this fixture by a combined score of 12-1.

Having won just one of their last 10 outings on the road either side of the new year, Saturday's visitors will be keen to turn their away fortunes around.

Almere City claimed a 2-1 victory over SBV Excelsior when the teams faced off on Friday to kick off round 20 of the 2023-24 Eredivisie season.

Alex Pastoor's men did not have the best of starts as they went behind to Troy Parrott's strike but managed to level matters through Stije Resink just shy of the half-time whistle after which Casper Widell put the ball in his own net to complete the turnaround.

With 23 points picked up from 20 matches so far, De Zwarte Schapen sit 12th in the standings, a whopping eight points clear of relegation danger.

Currently with the joint-third worst defensive home record in the division, Saturday's hosts will need to keep things tight at the back this weekend.

Almere City Eredivisie form:

L

W

W

D

L

W

Almere City form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

L

W

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

W

L

L

D

D

L

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

L

L

Team News

Yukinari Sugawara made his return to action from international duty last time out and is expected to retain his place in the AZ Alkmaar starting lineup.

Dutch duo Sam Westerveld and Hobie Verhulst miss out through knee and shoulder injuries respectively but Denso Kasius is eligible to feature once again after serving a suspension.

Faiz Mattoir was named on the Almere City bench last time out but it remains to be seen if the Comoros international will be fit enough to play a part this weekend.

Twenty-five-year-old Sherel Floranus is a minor injury doubt for the home side here having missed the win over Excelsior through a knock.

Almere City possible starting lineup:

Bakker; Jacobs, Van Bruggen, Barbet; Cathline, Koopmeiners, Pena, Resink, Ritmeester; Robinet, Van La Parra

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Owusu-Oduro; Penetra, Goes, Bazoer, Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans, De Wit; Sugawara, Pavlidis, Van Bommel

We say: Almere City 0-2 AZ Alkmaar

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