AZ Alkmaar Look to Extend Perfect Eredivisie Start Against Struggling Willem II

AZ Alkmaar hold the keys to the Eredivisie summit, possessing the firepower to dictate the title race's early tempo, and they get their next chance to assert that dominance tonight at 18:00 UTC. Stepping onto the AFAS Stadion pitch against a reeling Willem II side, Leeroy Echteld’s squad isn't just looking for three points; they are looking to make a statement that their flawless five-match run is no fluke. The hosts have won every domestic fixture since their campaign began, and a sixth consecutive victory would cement their status as legitimate challengers to the established Dutch hierarchy.[1][2]

The Alkmaar outfit has been ruthless in the opening weeks of the 2026 season. With 15 points from five fixtures, they sit alone at the top of the table, looking down on traditional heavyweights. Their latest outing—a gritty 3-2 comeback victory away at Heerenveen on Sunday—proved they can win ugly when required, but their broader campaign has been defined by blistering attacking football. Having kicked off the season with a dominant 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup, the squad has maintained a relentless pace that few domestic opponents have been able to match.[1]

Netting 16 goals so far in league play, AZ's attacking output is eclipsed only by PSV Eindhoven's 18. The expected starting XI features a dynamic front four, with Mexx Meerdink spearheading a 4-2-3-1 formation. He will be supported by the creative engine of Dave Kwakman and Ro-Zangelo Daal, while veteran midfielder Jordy Clasie continues to anchor the center of the park alongside Peer Koopmeiners. This tactical setup has allowed AZ to average over three goals per game, overwhelming defenses with rapid transitions and precise finishing in the final third, reflected in their consistently high match ratings across the squad.[1][3][6]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Willem II arrive in North Holland facing a daunting reality check. Promoted back to the top flight after a dramatic playoff penalty shootout victory over Volendam in May 2025, John Stegeman’s men have found the Eredivisie entirely unforgiving. The Tricolores sit 17th in the standings with a solitary point, having conceded 13 goals while scoring just four. Their most recent fixture, a 3-0 home dismantling by Excelsior last Saturday, highlighted a porous defense that now has the unenviable task of containing the league's most in-form attacking unit.[1]

Injuries have severely compounded Willem II's miserable start to the autumn schedule. First-choice goalkeeper Thomas Didillon-Hödl remains sidelined with a hamstring issue that has kept him out of the last three matches, forcing Maxime Delanghe to continue deputizing between the posts. Furthermore, Swedish midfielder Armin Culum is still recovering from a foot injury, delaying his Eredivisie debut, while Amine Lachkar and Anass Zarrouk are also ruled out. These absences have stripped Stegeman of crucial rotational options just as the fixture list demands fresh legs.[2][3]

AZ Alkmaar are not without their own absentees—defenders Denso Kasius and Stije Resink remain unavailable due to injury—but their squad depth has easily absorbed the losses. The defensive line, anchored by Wouter Goes and Lewis Schouten, has conceded just five goals this season. That stability at the back provides the foundation for fullbacks Elijah Dijkstra and Mateo Chávez to push high up the pitch, creating the numerical overloads that have consistently unpicked opposition blocks over the past month.[3]

Historically, this fixture has favored the hosts, with AZ claiming 10 victories to Willem II's seven across their recent head-to-head encounters, alongside six draws. However, the sheer disparity in current form makes tonight's clash look less like a traditional rivalry and more like a tactical mismatch. Willem II enters the match with an implied winning probability of just 6 percent, reflecting a consensus that they will spend the majority of the 90 minutes pinned inside their own half.[3][5]

The tactical battle will likely see AZ monopolize possession from the opening whistle, forcing Willem II into a deep, compact low block. If Stegeman's side can somehow absorb the early pressure, they might find fleeting transition opportunities through wingers Jaden Slory and Eser Gürbüz. However, surviving the opening 20 minutes without conceding is paramount; AZ has made a habit of scoring early and forcing opponents to abandon their defensive game plans. As the analysts at Sports Mole noted in their match preview, 'Willem II are conceding over three goals per game this term, while AZ are averaging a similar number in attack. It is hard to see Friday's clash yielding anything other than a home win.'[2][4]

The stakes for this Friday evening clash are clearly defined for both camps. For Willem II, a shock result at the AFAS Stadion would be a season-altering lifeline, providing a blueprint for survival in a league that currently looks too fast for them. But for AZ Alkmaar, tonight is strictly about maintaining momentum and dictating the terms of the title race. If they execute their game plan, they will sleep comfortably at the top of the Eredivisie, forcing the rest of the Netherlands to chase their shadow into the weekend.[1][2]