📏 Form Guide

AZ

DWWWLL

AZ will be hoping to return to winning ways here following a 5-1 Eredivisie loss in their previous game against PSV Eindhoven.

In that match, AZ managed 41% possession and 10 attempts on goal with 6 on target. The only player on the scoresheet for AZ was Vangelis Pavlidis (58'). At the other end, PSV got 18 shots at goal with 8 on target. Johan Bakayoko (9'), Luuk de Jong (23', 53'), Joey Veerman (80') and Jesper Uneken (91') scored for PSV Eindhoven.

Matches featuring AZ have usually been engaging affairs lately with high scoring the rule rather than the exception. Over their past half dozen games alone, a total of 23 goals have been recorded for both sides combined (at an average of 3.83 goals per game) with 12 of those coming from AZ.

Going into this game, the form guide shows that AZ:

• are unbeaten in the league by RKC Waalwijk in their previous 2 games.
• have not been beaten in their last 3 league matches at home.

RKC Waalwijk

LWDDDL

Following on from a loss in their previous game against FC Volendam in Eredivisie competition, RKC Waalwijk and their travelling fans will hope for a better result here.

In that match, RKC Waalwijk managed 59% possession and 15 attempts on goal with 8 on target. For RKC Waalwijk, the goals were scored by Reuven Niemeijer (55') and Michiel Kramer (59'). For their opponents, FC Volendam got 20 shots on goal with 8 on target. Robert Mühren (14', 22') and Darius Johnson (75') scored for FC Volendam.

The stats don’t lie, and RKC Waalwijk have been scored against in 5 of their last 6 games, letting opponents get 7 goals overall. In defence, RKC Waalwijk have clearly had some problems. That sort of trend might not be carried forward into this match, though.

Coming into this meeting, RKC Waalwijk have not won away from home in their last 8 league games. A poor run.

↔️ Head to head

Checking out their prior head to head meetings dating back to 14/08/2021, there is nothing to separate the two clubs with AZ winning 3 of those games, RKC Waalwijk 3 and 0 being drawn after 90 minutes of play.

In all, 20 goals were produced between them during those clashes, with 12 from AZ and 8 belonging to RKC. That’s an average goals per game figure of 3.33.

The last league clash featuring the two was Eredivisie match day 3 on 20/08/2023 when the final score was RKC Waalwijk 1-3 AZ.

The referee was Alex Bos.

ℹ️ Team News: AZ

Mayckel Lahdo (unknown injury), Bruno Martins Indi (Back injury) and Sem Westerveld (Meniscus injury) are unavailable for AZ gaffer Maarten Martens.

We think that AZ will probably opt for a 4-2-3-1 system, handing starts to Mathew Ryan, Yukinari Sugawara, Wouter Goes, Riechedly Bazoer, David Moeller Wolfe, Jordy Clasie, Tiago Dantas, Sven Mijnans, Dani de Wit, Ruben van Bommel and Vangelis Pavlidis.

📰 Team News: RKC Waalwijk

Owing to an otherwise full-strength squad, there’s just the one fitness issue for the RKC Waalwijk gaffer Henk Fraser to contend with. Nouri El Harmazi (Shoulder injury) won’t be playing here.

It’s our belief that RKC Waalwijk might elect for a 4-2-3-1 formation, starting the game with Etienne Vaessen, Julian Lelieveld, Jurien Gaari, Dario van den Buijs, Thierry Lutonda, Yassin Oukili, Kevin Felida, Denilho Cleonise, Reuven Niemeijer, Chris Lokesa and David Min.

💭 Prediction

RKC Waalwijk will need to be at their best to be scoring even one goal against a AZ side who have the capability to boss most aspects of this game if it turns out as we expect.

We’re tipping a commanding 3-0 winning margin for AZ when the referee blows the final whistle.

Our expert partners are tipping over 1.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Peter Guest, 16:08 13/04/2024