Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
Groningen
Match Time & Date:
01/10/2022
18:45
Prediction: 1-2
AZ
After suffering a 2-1 loss to Sparta Rotterdam on Matchday 7, Groningen will look to get back on course when they welcome AZ Alkmaar to their Euroborg Stadion on Saturday evening. The King of the North are still looking for their best form, and, no doubt, this match could be the turning point for the home side. Jan Hoekstra should be the only absentee for the hosts, as he has yet to recover from a shoulder injury.
Az Alkmar, on the other hand, have been in a fine form in recent weeks, with the team aiming to remain undefeated in the 2022/2023 season. De Kaasboeren proved their worth in a 2-1 win over reigning champions Ajax, and a triumph over Groningen will see them stay in the playoffs berth. Taking everything into account, we predict that the visitors will pick up all three points from this encounter due to their splendid form. The likes of Hakon Evjen and Vangelis Pavlidis are sidelined with injuries, whereas Jesper Karlsson face race against the clock to be fit for this fixture.
Highlighted Player (Jordy Clasie):
Jordy Clasie is a product of the Feyenoord youth academy who plays for AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder. His main position is defensive midfield, but he is capable of producing fine displays as both central midfielder and centre-back as well.
Clasie played for the likes of Feyenoord, Excelsior (loan), Southampton, and Club Brugge (loan) before returning to Rotterdam. After ending his second spell with Feyenoord, the Dutch footballer joined AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2019. He made his AZ debut in the Eredivisie on August 4, 2019 in a 4-0 win over Fortuna Sittard.
Jordie Clasie has 12 caps with the Netherlands U21 team, and he made his senior debut in a 1-1 draw with Italy on February 6, 2013. Thanks to his elegant style of play, Clasie has earned the nickname of “Dutch Xavi”. The AZ Alkmaar midfielder was born in Haarlem, Netherlands on June 27, 1991.
Highlighted Team (AZ):
AZ Alkmaar are a professional football club that play their home matches at AFAS Stadion. The venue was opened on 4 August, 2006 and the construction of the stadium cost €38 million. AFAS Stadion is able to hold 17 023 spectators.
The Cheeseheads were founded on 10 May, 1967 and they won their first trophy in 1981, finishing the season 12 points clear of Dutch giants Ajax. 18 years later AZ clinched their second Eredivisie trophy, with the team finishing the 2008/2009 campaign with 80 points, 11 clear of second-placed Twente. In 1981 the club made it to the UEFA Cup final, but English side Ipswich Town proved to be a big catch for the Dutch team.
AZ’s home kits are red and white and they wear black shirts when playing on the road. The likes of Shota Arveladze, Jozy Altidore, Ron Vlaar, Joris Mathijsen, Graziano Pelle, Simon Poulsen, Moussa Dembele and Sergio Romero are notable footballers who played for AZ in the past.
Man City 
Everton
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 
Chelsea 
Fulham
Newcastle 
Aston Villa 
Nottingham Forest 
Tottenham
Southampton 
West Ham 
