AZ Alkmaar don just win KNVB Beker final with 5-1 victory over NEC, and now dem dey focus on Eredivisie as dem travel to De Adelaarshorst to face Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday evening.
Di cup win don secure Europa League football for AZ next season, but di team still dey push for top-three finish to qualify for Champions League. Dem currently dey six points behind third-placed NEC.
Go Ahead Eagles dey come back to home turf after goalless draw against Groningen. Di team don excel at home recently, winning last two matches against NAC Breda and PEC Zwolle by combined 11-0 scoreline.
Only PSV Eindhoven, NEC, Feyenoord, and AZ don score more home league goals than Go Ahead Eagles dis season. Di Pride of di IJssel also get three clean sheets for last four home matches.
AZ get strong record against Go Ahead Eagles, winning each of dia last six trips to Deventer. But dia recent away form dey worry—dem don lose last three league matches on di road and five of last six away from home overall.
With matches against Twente and Feyenoord still to come, AZ get little room for error if dem want keep Champions League hopes alive.
Go Ahead Eagles still dey hope for European qualification, though dem dey eight points behind di last European spot. Di team go need to stay compact early on, as dem don concede almost half of dia 45 goals dis season for di first period.
For AZ, Troy Parrott dey aim to score for fourth straight meeting between di two sides. Di Ireland international don score 30 goals dis season, including one for di cup final.
Jizz Hornkamp dey sideline for AZ with ankle problem, missing last seven matches. Jordie Clasie also dey doubt after coming off gingerly for di cup final.
Go Ahead Eagles get several absentees: Gerrit Nauber (leg), Pim Saathof (knee), and Robbin Weijenberg (ACL) all dey out. Giovanni van Zwam, Yassir Rahmouni, and Julius Dirksen also dey expected to miss. Dean Ruben James dey available again after returning against Groningen.
Di match go kick off on April 23, 2026 at 12:45 PM UK time, and ESPN Select go broadcast am.
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