Heerenveen vs AZ Alkmaar

Seeking their fourth consecutive Eredivisie victory and an opportunity to break into the league’s top three, AZ Alkmaar will travel to the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Sunday to face Heerenveen.

Currently, the visiting side finds itself just outside the top three due to goal difference and is riding high after securing a spot in the KNVB Beker final on Thursday. In contrast, Heerenveen occupies 10th place and is struggling to recover from a five-match winless streak.

Heerenveen enters the fixture with the primary objective of halting their poor run of form and reclaiming a top-half position in the league table. The match will also mark their first outing since the departure of manager Robin van Persie. Following an 11th-place finish last season, the club showed promise in the initial half of the 2024-25 campaign, amassing 24 points from their first 18 matches. Their promising start included an away victory in their opening game of the new year, setting a positive tone for the second half of the season.

However, their momentum has since faded, as Heerenveen has been unable to secure another victory in five subsequent attempts. The struggles began with successive defeats to Ajax and Groningen, followed by a 2-2 stalemate with Fortuna Sittard. Their misfortunes continued with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Twente, in which Eser Gurbuz rescued a point with a last-gasp equalizer in the 93rd minute. Most recently, they were held to a 1-1 draw at PEC Zwolle, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh finding the net to level the score on the hour mark.

Currently positioned 10th in the Eredivisie, Heerenveen finds itself trailing Groningen while maintaining a slim advantage over NAC Breda on goal difference. The club now finds itself under the temporary stewardship of Henk Brugge following Van Persie’s departure to Feyenoord earlier in the week. As they prepare for Sunday’s match, the team sees an opportunity to reassert their top-half credentials by putting an end to their winless run and securing a valuable three points.

However, achieving this will be a formidable challenge, as they will be up against an in-form AZ Alkmaar side aiming for their fourth consecutive Eredivisie victory and a place in the top three.

AZ Alkmaar has experienced an impressive resurgence, making significant strides in both domestic and European competitions. After two consecutive fourth-place finishes in the Eredivisie, the team is determined to improve on those standings. Their recent form has been their strongest of the season, putting them within reach of the league’s final UEFA Champions League qualifying position. Additionally, they have progressed in both the KNVB Beker and the Europa League, further underlining their ambition.

Following back-to-back defeats in both the league and European competition in January, AZ Alkmaar has rebounded emphatically, winning six of their last seven matches. The only exception was a draw in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie against Galatasaray—a result that mattered little as they had already secured a commanding 3-1 victory in the home leg.

Their winning run in the Eredivisie was extended last weekend when they edged Fortuna Sittard 1-0, with Zico Buurmeester scoring the decisive goal. Just days later, they faced Heracles in the KNVB Beker semi-finals. Although they were held to a 2-2 draw in normal time—despite leading twice through goals from Ernest Poku and Mayckel Lahdo—they ultimately triumphed in the penalty shootout, securing a place in the final.

With confidence soaring and momentum building at the AFAS Stadion, AZ Alkmaar now sits fourth in the league standings, level on points with third-placed Feyenoord but trailing only on goal difference. A victory on Sunday would not only extend their winning streak but could also propel them into the top three, further strengthening their bid for a Champions League spot next season.

Adding to their confidence is their dominant performance in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. When the two teams met in September, AZ Alkmaar delivered a crushing 9-1 defeat to Heerenveen, marking one of the most lopsided results in Eredivisie history. That emphatic victory will serve as a psychological advantage as they prepare for the upcoming clash.

With Heerenveen desperate to end their winless streak and AZ Alkmaar eyeing a top-three berth, Sunday’s encounter promises to be an intense battle. The hosts will need to overcome their recent struggles and adjust to life without Van Persie at the helm, while the visitors will look to continue their dominant form and capitalize on the opportunity to climb the table. As both teams gear up for this crucial showdown, all eyes will be on whether Heerenveen can spring an upset or if AZ Alkmaar will continue their charge toward the top of the Eredivisie.