AZ Alkmaar vs Utrecht Predictions

AZ Alkmaar and FC Utrecht went into the winter break with just three points and three positions separating them in the Eredivisie table, and on Saturday the two teams lock horns in their first competitive match since before Christmas.

AZ Alkmaar took the lead in the sixteenth minute away at PSV, but Seuntjens’ goal would prove a false dawn for the visitors. Bergwijn leveled the scores five minutes before the break, and just two minutes after the restart Sadílek put PSV in front. An eighty-fourth minute penalty from Mexican international Lozano ended any hopes of an AZ comeback and PSV won the game 3-1. AZ gave a decent account of themselves at the home of the reining champions, with 46% of the possession and twice as many corners as the home side.

Utrecht also lost 3-1 in their final game before the winter break, and they too faced one of the chief title contenders. Dolberg handed Ajax the lead in the fourteenth minute at Stadion Galgenwaard and that proved enough to separate the two teams at the interval. On the hour mark Tadić doubled the visitors lead, but Venema brought Utrecht back into the match fourteen minutes later when he made it 2-1. However, deep into stoppage time Ajax had one final attack and de Jong scored to wrap up all three points for the Dutch giants.

When these two clubs met back in October for their reverse league fixture, Utrecht had the home advantage and ran out 2-1 winners. A early strike from Johnsen thrust AZ into the lead, but veteran midfielder Emanuelson levelled the scores before the break. The game appeared to be heading for a stalemate until the eighty-seventh minute when the unfortunate van Rhijn put the ball into the back of his own net to hand the hosts all three points.

With four wins, one draw, and one defeat from their last six matches, the hosts AZ Alkmaar head into Saturday’s game as the form favourites. The visitors have won three, drawn one, and lost two of their last six, but the recent head to head record between the two sides has three wins, three defeats, and one draw for both teams in their last seven encounters. Idrissi top scores for the hosts with six league goals this season, while Gustafson, Kerk, and Venema joint top score with goals each for Utrecht.

We’re confident that both teams will score and that over 2.5 goals will be produced in Saturday’s game, and have backed the match to end in a 2-2 draw. Six of the last seven meetings between these two clubs have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals produced, while three of AZ Alkmaar’s and four of Utrecht’s last six competitive matches have also seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals produced, and that’s why were backing goals at both ends of the pitch between the pair this weekend.