Following the conclusion of the international break, the Eredivisie resumes on Saturday with AZ Alkmaar hosting Heerenveen at the AFAS Stadion. The hosts will be aiming to get back to winning ways after suffering a first defeat in over a month, while the away side will be looking to make it back-to-back victories for the first time this year.
AZ Alkmaar have dropped to fourth in the league table and are eight points off the top, while Heerenveen are ninth and in with a shout of a continental playoff spot, just five points behind.
De Kaasboeren are unbeaten in four matches at home across all competitions, while De Superfriezen have turned their away fortunes around, conceding the joint second-fewest goals on enemy territory this term. Both sides will be eyeing up the three points in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
Here is the latest form ahead of the match:Â
AZ: W-L-W-W-W
Heerenveen: W-L-L-D-L
Team news
Midfielder Riechedly Bazoer and goalkeeper Sem Westerveld have been ruled out of contention for AZ Alkmaar due to knee injuries, though the latter is edging closer to a return. Attacking midfielder Dani de Wit has also been sidelined with a leg problem, while defender Bruno Martins Indi has not featured since September due to a hip bone injury.
Striker Jesper Karlsson is one to watch in this game, having continued his goalscoring streak on international duty with Sweden, netting in four consecutive matches. Goalkeeper Andries Noppert has been absent for 11 matches in a row due to a hip injury, and centre-back Sven van Beek is currently nursing a torn Achilles.
Heerenveen will be without defender Joost van Aken, who recently picked up a knee injury in training. The away side’s Sydney van Hooijdonk has been in good form of late, having scored four goals in his last four games, and the striker will be looking to make an impact here.
