KNVB Beker | Round of 16

Jan 14, 2025 at 5.45pm UK

AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne

AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax

Match preview

AZ were knocked out of the KNVB Beker at the quarter-final stage last season, losing 2-0 to Feyenoord on 7 February.

The home side have won the competition on four occasions, but their last triumph came in 2012-13, and it remains their last trophy.

Boss Maarten Martens will be disappointed that his side currently sit sixth in the Eredivisie on 33 points after 18 rounds of matches and are on course to finish on 62 points, three fewer than last season.

Martens will be confident of his side's ability to overcome Ajax, who beat them 2-1 in the Eredivisie on 8 December, and it should be noted that the club are also unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, winning six of those.

AZ have also been victorious in their last four home games, winning by a combined score of 7-2.

As for Ajax, they were knocked out of the KNVB Beker in 2023-24 when they lost 3-2 to USV Hercules on 21 December.

Current coach Francesco Farioli became the club's first foreign head coach since Morten Olsen in 1997-98 and has brought a degree of stability after the turbulence of last season, which saw the club sack Maurice Steijn and go through a series of caretaker coaches.

De Godenzonen are second in the league with 42 points from 18 games - four points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven - and are on course for a 79-point haul, well above the 56 they managed in 2023-24.

Farioli's side have won each of their last four matches, keeping clean sheets in three of them and conceding just once.

It should be noted, however, that Ajax's away form has been mixed, with two wins, one draw and two defeats in their last five games.

Recent Performance

AZ Alkmaar KNVB Beker form:W

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):WDWWWD

Ajax KNVB Beker form:W

Ajax form (all competitions):LLWWWW

Team News

AZ's injury list is not extensive, but there are doubts over the availability of attacking midfielder Kees Smit, midfielder Kristijan Belic and goalkeeper Sem Westerveld.

It would not be surprising to see a similar starting XI to the one that beat Ajax earlier in the season, with goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet likely to be protected by centre-backs Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra.

Peer Koopmeiners could be joined in midfield by Sven Mijnans and Jordy Clasie, while striker Troy Parrot could be flanked by Ernest Poku and Ruben van Bommel.

Ajax are concerned about striker Amourricho van Axel Dongen, and if he is not ready to start on Tuesday, the visitors could name an attack comprising Steven Berghuis, Brian Brobbey and Mika Godts.

Defenders Gaston Avila and Josip Sutalo are also doubts, so expect Jorrel Hato, Youri Baas, Daniele Rugani and Devyne Rensch to provide cover for goalkeeper Remko Pasveer.

Possible starting lineup

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Zoet; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Koopmeiners, Mijnans, Clasie; Poku, Parrott, Van Bommel

Ajax possible starting lineup:

Pasveer; Rensch, Rugani, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Taylor; Berghuis, Brobbey, Godts