Nijmegen vs AZ Alkmaar

Europe-chasing NEC Nijmegen are eager to achieve consecutive Eredivisie victories for the first time since January as they prepare to host Champions League hopefuls AZ Alkmaar in a crucial gameweek 27 encounter at Goffertstadion on Saturday. Rogier Meijer's squad heads into this match buoyed by their hard-fought 1-0 triumph over FC Utrecht just before the March international break, a result that ended a prolonged six-match winless streak. The hosts now seek to capitalize on that momentum, hoping to topple the sixth-placed visitors and further their own aspirations for European football next season.

As the calendar turned to 2025, NEC began the year on a promising note, securing consecutive victories against PEC Zwolle and Fortuna Sittard. This resurgence suggested that they had overcome the disappointing five-match winless run—four of which ended in defeat—that marked the close of 2024. Their impressive 3-3 draw against PSV Eindhoven further fueled optimism among their supporters, particularly as NEC displayed remarkable resilience to overturn a 1-0 deficit and later fight back from 3-1 down to salvage a valuable point. That spirited performance bolstered hopes of securing European qualification, but subsequent struggles dimmed those ambitions.

A frustrating sequence of five more winless games—including three defeats—saw NEC lose ground in the league standings. However, their fortunes took a positive turn just before the international break when they eked out a 1-0 away win at Utrecht. That result rekindled belief among their fans, who now look forward to witnessing their team string together back-to-back victories to close the gap on eighth-placed Fortuna Sittard, the team occupying the final European qualification slot. NEC currently trails Fortuna by three points, making their upcoming fixtures all the more critical in the race for continental football.

Despite their aspirations for a top-eight finish, NEC remains aware of the precarious nature of their current league position. While they sit in 11th place, they hold just a five-point cushion over Willem II, the side occupying the relegation playoff position. With eight matches remaining in the campaign, Meijer's squad is caught in the middle of a fiercely contested battle for eighth place, a position that could serve as their ticket to European football. However, their task is far from straightforward, with multiple teams vying for the same coveted spot in the standings.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar arrive in Nijmegen with loftier ambitions, setting their sights on finishing as high as third in the Eredivisie—a position that guarantees entry into the Champions League third qualifying round. As it stands, third place is occupied by Utrecht, the very team NEC defeated in their last outing. AZ currently sits five points adrift of Utrecht but has the advantage of having played one fewer game, making this upcoming fixture all the more significant in their pursuit of elite European competition.

While securing three points against NEC is far from guaranteed, Maarten Martens's men know that a victory here could place them within just two points of their primary target. However, their path to third place is complicated by stiff competition from Feyenoord, FC Twente, and Go Ahead Eagles. Feyenoord trails Utrecht by just two points, Twente is only three points off the pace, and Go Ahead Eagles are level with AZ on 44 points, making the battle for the top spots an intense affair.

For AZ, European qualification is not solely reliant on their league standing. The Alkmaar outfit has a golden opportunity to secure a Europa League berth through domestic cup success. With a final showdown against Go Ahead Eagles on the horizon, Martens’s men know that winning that decisive fixture would guarantee them European football next season. However, their ambitions extend beyond just making it to the Europa League, as AZ supporters are eager for a return to the Champions League after a lengthy 16-year absence from Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Nevertheless, if AZ harbors genuine aspirations of securing a top-three finish, they must drastically improve their away form. Their performances on the road in 2025 have been less than convincing, having registered just a single victory in five away matches since the turn of the year. While they have managed to avoid frequent defeats, securing three draws in that span, their inability to consistently win away from home has hindered their progress in the league standings.

As the match at Goffertstadion looms, both teams understand the importance of this clash in shaping their respective seasons. For NEC, a victory would not only propel them closer to the elusive eighth place but also provide a psychological boost in their pursuit of European football. For AZ, the stakes are even higher, as every point gained or lost could prove decisive in their quest for a Champions League spot. With both sides entering the fixture with strong motivations and contrasting yet equally compelling ambitions, the stage is set for an enthralling contest between two determined Eredivisie sides.