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

The teams are on a contrasting run of results heading into this one but this weekend's meeting is expected to be a keenly-contested affair nonetheless.

Match preview

AZ Alkmaar booked their place in the group stage of the Conference League by seeing off the threat of Brann via a penalty shootout on Thursday.

Having played out a thrilling 4-4 draw over two legs against their Norwegian counterparts, Pascal Jansen's men held their nerve from 12 yards with Penetra converting the winning spot-kick.

Back home, the Cheeseheads have picked up maximum points from their opening two matches and currently sit second in the Eredivisie table.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with just one victory from the most recent six editions of this fixture across all competitions.

Off the back of six straight wins on enemy territory, Sunday's visitors make the trip to Arnhem with huge confidence in their chances of coming away with maximum points.

Vitesse suffered a rare defeat in front of their fans as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven when the sides locked horns on August 19.

Phillip Cocu's men took the lead through Marco van Ginkel before second-half goals from Ismael Saibari, Yorbe Vertessen and Luuk de Jong turned the game on its head.

As a result, Geel en Zwart have dropped down to 12th in the standings, albeit just a point adrift of the top half ahead of this weekend's crunch clash.

Having recently suffered a first home defeat in seven matches, Sunday's hosts will be keen to avoid consecutive losses on home turf for the first time since March.

Vitesse Eredivisie form:

L

W

W

W

W

L

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

D

W

W

L

W

W

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

D

W

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Team News

Thomas Buitink and Davy Propper are both ruled for Vitesse through knee injuries and neither will play any part in this weekend's contest.

Marco van Ginkel has found the back of the net in his last two appearances for the home side, making him one to keep a close watch on here.

AZ Alkmaar's Bruno Martins Indi is still recuperating from a hip injury, while 21-year-old Sem Westerveld continues to battle with a knee problem.

Despite being linked with a move away from the club, Vangelis Pavlidis has remained at AZ and is expected to lead the line for the away side here.

Vitesse possible starting lineup:

Room; Arcus, Oroz, Isimat-Mirin, Cornelisse; Meulensteen, Tielemans; Kozlowski, Van Ginkel, Boutrah; Hamulic

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Wolfe, Chatzidiakos, Bazoer, Sugawara; Mijnans, Goudmijn; Odgaard, De Wit, Van Bommel; Pavlidis

We say: Vitesse 1-2 AZ Alkmaar

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