Matchday 12 of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season come to an end with a meeting between AZ Alkmaar and FC Volendam at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday.
The home side set out to make it back to back victories having returned to winning ways last time out, while their visitors go in search of a first league win in nine matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
AZ Alkmaar secured safe passage into the knockout phase of the Europa Conference League following a 2-1 victory over Vaduz at the Rheinpark Stadion on Thursday.
Pascal Jansen's men put themselves in the driving seat thanks to strikes from Milos Kerkez and Myron van Brederode before Nicolas Hasler pulled one back 13 minutes from time.
Just before that, the Cheeseheads fell to a 2-1 defeat against SBV Excelsior - a result which sees them currently trail Eredivisie leaders Ajax by five points in the standings.
Up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have lost all but one of the previous seven meetings between the sides across all competitions.
Having recently suffered a first home defeat in 15 matches, Sunday's hosts will be keen to get back on track in front of their fans where they are yet to lose consecutive games since March.
Volendam were beaten on their own patch for the third game running courtesy of a 3-1 defeat to Heerenveen at the Kras Stadion on Sunday evening.
After going behind to Sydney van Hooijdonk's opener, Wim Jonk's men hit back through Robert Muhren only for Mats Kohlert and Amin Sarr to net in the final five minutes of the contest.
With just two points picked up from the last possible 24, Het Andere Oranje remain rooted to the bottom of the league table, four points adrift of safety.
Currently with the joint second-worst attacking and defensive records away from home this term, Sunday's visitors have work to do at both ends of the pitch to stand any chance of upsetting the odds this weekend.
Team News
Bruno Martins-Indi remains out of contention for AZ Alkmaar due to a muscle injury, while Zinho Vanheusden continues to battle with a foot problem.
The hosts will also have to make do with the absence of Vangelis Pavlidis and Hakon Evjen, who are both currently down with ankle injuries.
Myron van Brederode came off the bench to good effect in midweek and the forward could be handed a place in the starting lineup for this one.
Calvin Twight is yet to feature for Volendam since March due to a long-term knee problem which is set to keep him out of Sunday's contest.
Robert Muhren has scored four times in his last seven appearances for the away side, making the 33-year-old forward one to keep an eye on here.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Verhulst; Kerkez, Dekker, Beukema, Chatzidiakos; Claise, De Wit, Reijnders; Van Brederode, Odgaard, Karlsson
FC Volendam possible starting lineup:
Stankovic; Benamar, Mbuyamba, Mirani, Murkin; Ould Chikh; Oristanio, Eiting; El Kadiri, Muhren, Van Mieghem
We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 FC Volendam
Volendam have conceded the most goals in the Eredivisie heading into matchday 12, and we expect their deficiencies at the back to be laid bare once again with AZ Alkmaar strolling to a routine win at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
