AZ Alkmaar vs Heerenveen Predictions

AZ drew 1-1 away at Willem II before the international break to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches, while Heerenveen made it back to back league wins as they claimed a 1-0 victory at home against Zwolle.

All of the stats suggest that we will see both teams score in Saturday’s clash and make AZ the most likely winners by two goals to one.

Four of the last five meetings between these two clubs have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals have been scored in all of those games as well. AZ have won five of the pairs’ last six encounters and sit seven points above Heerenveen in the Eredivisie table, so you can see why we’ve backed the hosts to claim a 2-1 win this weekend.

The form and performances of both clubs during the last month or so only adds weight to our prediction for a narrow home win on Saturday, as AZ have only failed to score in one of their last six matches and both teams scored in the hosts’ last match, while Heerenveen have also only failed to score in one of their last six matches and both teams scored in three of their last five games.

AZ are unbeaten in their last six matches and haven’t lost at home in all competitions this season, so it’s difficult to see Heerenveen taking anything from this weekend’s clash. However, the visitor’s form has improved of late, with Heerenveen only losing one of their last six matches, and that’s another reason why we’re expecting a close and competitive ninety minutes between the pair this weekend.

Heerenveen have lost half of their away games in the league so far this season, while AZ have won three and drawn one in the Eredivisie at home and that’s why we believe the hosts will just pinch a result on Saturday. Neither of these teams have been scoring or conceding a lot of goals of late but when they have locked horns in recent seasons both have tended to find the back of the net and each of their last six encounters have produced a result, usually in AZ’s favour.

We’re confident that both teams will score on Saturday and we have predicted a final scoreline of 2-1 to AZ. The hosts have had the better start to the season and have found these encounters more fruitful in recent seasons. Heerenveen won’t go down without a fight as they have only lost one of their last six matches and are unbeaten in their last three league games but we believe AZ will do just enough to claim all three points.