NAC Breda and AZ Alkmaar square off in the Eredivisie on Sunday evening with both clubs looking to mount a charge for the top five in the table.
Just four points separate the two teams in seventh and sixth place respectively ahead of the game at the Rat Verlegh Stadium.
Match preview
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AZ have endured somewhat of a bizarre season under Maarten Martens, putting together winning and winless streaks at various stages of the campaign.
The end result is sitting 16 points adrift of leaders PSV Eindhoven, although Martens will be encouraged that they remain just the nine behind second-placed FC Utrecht.
That will particularly be the case with AZ having recorded three successive victories in the Eredivisie, edging out Sparta Rotterdam, Heracles and Ajax.
Overcoming the latter has kept AZ within seven points of third, yet they continue a tough run of league fixtures with Twente, PSV Eindhoven and FC Utrecht to follow this game.
On Thursday night, AZ posted a 2-2 draw in their Europa League fixture at Ludogorets Razgrad, letting slip a two-goal lead in Bulgaria to sit in 19th position in the standings.
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As for NAC Breda, they would have been content with Eredivisie survival in 2024-25 having earned promotion from the second tier.
Instead, Carl Hoefkens' team have prevailed in five of their last eight contests to move into seventh place, 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
Three of their last four defeats have come against Feyenoord, Twente and PSV Eindhoven, emphasising their consistency in other games against the lower-end teams in the table.
NAC's home form is proving key, a total of 15 points coming from seven matches with just seven goals being conceded in the process.
Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, Hoefkens is unlikely to make any changes to his NAC Breda starting lineup.
That is despite both of their goals last time out coming from defenders, Elias Mar Omarsson still doing enough to retain his place down the centre of the attack.
Dominik Janosek is an alternative in a creative role if Hoefkens wishes to tinker with his team.
Alterations could be made to the AZ XI with Martens naming a largely-unchanged side for two matches in a row.
Mayckel Lahdo is an option to be included on the flank, while Denso Kasius may be considered for a start at right-back.
Ibrahim Sadiq has just returned to the squad after a two-month absence, yet he may have to be content with another appearance on the substitutes' bench here.
NAC Breda possible starting lineup:
Bielica; Lucassen, Greiml, Van den Bergh, Kemper; Jensen, Balard; Paula, Leemans, Sauer; Omarsson
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Zoet; Kasius, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Koopmeiners, Mijnans, Clasie; Poku, Parrott, Lahdo
We say: NAC Breda 1-2 AZ Alkmaar
With both teams in good form ahead of this contest, we expect a hard-fought contest. Nevertheless, although NAC Breda will be keen to build on their unexpected position in seventh place, we feel that they will fall short against Martens' team on Sunday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
