Eredivisie | Gameweek 24

Mar 2, 2025 at 11.15am UK

Abe Lenstra Stadion

Heerenveen vs AZ

Match preview

Heerenveen will be hoping to end a five-match winless streak and return to the top half of the Eredivisie table in their first game since the departure of manager Robin van Persie.

After finishing 11th last time out, De Superfriezen enjoyed an encouraging start to the 2024-25 campaign, picking up 24 points from 18 matches with an away win in their first game of the new year.

Since then, however, they have failed to add an eighth point to their win column in five attempts, first dropping out of the top half after consecutive defeats to Ajax and Groningen and a 2-2 draw with Fortuna Sittard.

Since then, De Superfriezen have earned a point in a 3-3 draw with Twente thanks to Eser Gurbuz's 93rd-minute equaliser, before a trip to PEC Zwolle in mid-February ended in a 1-1 draw when Alireza Jahanbakhsh equalised on the hour mark.

Now in 10th place, behind Groningen and ahead of NAC Breda on goal difference, and with Van Persie's departure to Feyenoord on Monday leaving them under the temporary stewardship of Henk Brugge, Heerenveen have the chance to quickly strengthen their position in the top-half chase if they can end their winless run on Sunday.

It will not be an easy task, however, as the visitors arrive in search of a fourth successive league win with the top three in their sights.

AZ Alkmaar have been on their best run of the season, moving within touching distance of the final Champions League qualifying spot and progressing in the KNVB Beker and Europa League.

After consecutive league and continental defeats in January, Maarten Martens' side have won six of their last seven games, with the only draw coming in the second leg of their Europa League play-off triumph over Galatasaray, which they won 3-1 at home.

De Kaasboeren then made it three points in a row in the Eredivisie with a 1-0 win over Fortuna Sittard last weekend thanks to Zico Buurmeester's goal, before most recently visiting Heracles in the KNVB Beker semi-finals, where they progressed on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time following two goals from Ernest Poku and Mayckel Lahdo.

With momentum building at the AFAS Stadion, AZ Alkmaar now sit fourth in the Eredivisie, only behind third-placed Feyenoord on goal difference, and will be hoping to move into the top three with another win on Sunday, having thrashed Heerenveen 9-1 in the reverse fixture in September.

Recent Performance

Heerenveen Eredivisie form:WLLDDD

Heerenveen form (all competitions):LLLDDD

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:DDLWWW

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):WWWDWW

Team News

Heerenveen's injury problems continue this weekend, with top scorers Ion Nicolaescu and Jacob Trenskow joining Pawel Bochniewicz and Luuk Brouwers in the treatment room.

With those absences, Milos Lukovic, who joined on loan from Strasbourg in January, should continue to lead the line, while Alireza Jahanbakhsh is back in a supporting role after scoring his second goal of the season last time out.

Espen van Ee is a mainstay in midfield and should be joined by Marcus Linday at the heart of their 4-2-3-1 formation.

AZ Alkmaar will be without several of their own through injury, with Mexx Meerdink, Ruben van Bommel, Jayden Addai and Sven Mijnans all set to miss out on Sunday.

The quartet have combined for 24 goals this term, leaving plenty of attacking responsibility on star striker Troy Parrott, who has found the back of the net 17 times this season, including 12 in the Eredivisie, to finish second in the league's scoring charts.

Despite the quick turnaround, Maarten Martens should name a similar starting XI to Thursday's cup tie, with Mayckel Lahdo and Ernest Poku providing attacking support from the wings and key men Jordy Clasie and Peer Koopmeiners continuing their partnership in midfield.

Possible starting lineup

Heerenveen possible starting lineup:

Van Der Hart; Braude, Kersten, Hopland, Kohlert; Van Ee, Linday; Jahanbakhsh, Smans, Rallis; Lukovic

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:

Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, De Wit; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo; Parrott