Our prediction for this Netherlands Eredivisie match:
AZ
Match Time & Date:
21/12/2021
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
Groningen
AZ Alkmaar and Groningen face each other at AFAS Stadion in the Eredivisie round 18. AZ Alkmaar made a slow start to the season, but they seem to be at the top of their game ahead of the midweek clash. Albert Gudmundsson, who almost scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Willem II, is pushing for a start, with Aslak Fonn Witry likely to drop to the bench. Head coach Pascal Jansen should have a full squad to choose from.
Groningen, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 4-2 loss to Heracles. The Green and White Army failed to win the previous three league fixtures, and seeing that AZ Alkmaar have been showing signs of improvement of late, home win should be considered. Both Daleho Irandust and Radinio Balker are likely to miss out with injuries for the visiting team.
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 (Groningen):
Groningen is a Dutch football clubs that competes in the Eredivisie. Founded on June 16, 1971, Groningen play home games at Euroborg. The venue was built by Ballas Nedam, Royal BAM Group and VolkerWessels, and it can hold up to 22,525 people.
The Trots van het Noorden (Pride of the North) are well known for their white home shirts with red stripes, while purple is the dominant colour of their away kit. Volendam are considered the club’s fiercest rivals, but they have a rivalry with Twente as well after the 1980s incidents between their fans. Groningen have yet to win the Eredivisie trophy, but they did well to go all the way in the Dutch Cup in the 2014/15 season.
The green and whites defeated Zwolle 2-0 in the title game. Speaking of their European success, it has to be noted that Groningen participated in the Europa League on two occasions. In the 2015/16 season the Trots van het Noorden booked their place in the group stages of the competition, but they failed to record a win in the process.
Monza 
Juventus
