Managerless Heerenveen welcome in-form AZ Alkmaar to Friesland on Sunday afternoon, hoping to start the post Robin van Persie era with a win. Read on for our Heerenveen vs AZ Alkmaar prediction and more.
Contents
- 1 Heerenveen vs AZ Alkmaar prediction: AZ to take advantage
- 2 Pre-game odds and win probability: AZ have the advantage
- 3 Most recent H2Hs: Alkmaar produce the ultimate humiliation
- 4 Heerenveen preview: Change in the dugout, change in form?
- 5 AZ Alkmaar preview: Pushing for Champions League?
- 6 Player to watch – Ernest Poku
Heerenveen vs AZ Alkmaar prediction: AZ to take advantage
Key Stats
- AZ Alkmaar are unbeaten in seven, winning five.
- Heerenveen, by contrast, are winless in six, and without a clean sheet in ten.
- AZ are unbeaten against their hosts in their last ten meetings.
Correct score prediction: Heerenveen 1-3 AZ Alkmaar
We back AZ Alkmaar to take advantage of Heerenveen's vacant managerial position and poor form, leaving the Abe Lenstra Stadion with all three points.
De Superfriezen will likely grab a goal, but AZ will have too much firepower for their leaky defence to handle.
Pre-game odds and win probability: AZ have the advantage
- HOME: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
- AWAY: 21/20 (2.05) – 48.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
AZ Alkmaar are the bookmakers' expected winner in this contest, despite being the away side. Their odds of 21/20 imply a 48.8% likelihood of victory.
Check out more of our Eredivisie tips and analysis on our latest football predictions page.
Most recent H2Hs: Alkmaar produce the ultimate humiliation
AZ Alkmaar have had the upper hand in recent years in this fixture, with three wins and two draws in their last five meetings.
The last meeting between the pair went down in infamy, with AZ obliterating Heerenveen 9-1 back in September.
Netherlands Eredivisie 14/09/24

AZ

Heerenveen
Netherlands Eredivisie 28/01/24

Heerenveen

AZ
Netherlands Eredivisie 21/10/23

AZ

Heerenveen
Netherlands Eredivisie 01/04/23

AZ

Heerenveen
Netherlands Eredivisie 14/01/23

Heerenveen

AZ
Heerenveen preview: Change in the dugout, change in form?
Though Heerenveen will have been disappointed to lose manager van Persie to Feyenoord mid-season, the Frisian side's form has not exactly been stellar of late.
Heerenveen are without a win in six matches coming into this one, having drawn 1-1 with PEC Zwolle in van Persie's final match.
Hopefully, a refresh in the dugout will get them out of their rut.
Predicted lineup: Van der Hart (GK), Braude, Kersten, Hopland, Kohlert, Van Ee, Linday, Jahanbakhsh, Smans, Rallis, Nicolaescu
Netherlands Eredivisie 10/05/25
L

RKC
3

Heerenveen
1
Netherlands Eredivisie 27/04/25
W

NEC
0

Heerenveen
1
Netherlands Eredivisie 19/04/25
W

Almere City FC
1

Heerenveen
2
Netherlands Eredivisie 12/04/25
L

Sparta Rotterdam
3

Heerenveen
1
Netherlands Eredivisie 04/04/25
W

Willem II
1

Heerenveen
3
AZ Alkmaar preview: Pushing for Champions League?
The first two months of 2025 have gone well for AZ Alkmaar, with their good form in the Eredivisie putting them just behind Feyenoord in the league table, putting them on the precipice of Champions League football.
They have also eliminated a star-studded Galatasaray side from the Europa League. The cherry on top was their midweek penalty shootout win over Heracles, to put themselves in the KNVB Beker final.
AZ will be feeling good coming into this one, and with good reason.
Predicted lineup: Owusu-Oduro (GK), Maikuma, Goes, Penetra, Moller Wolfe, Clasie, Koopmeiners, Poku, Buurmeester, Lahdo, Parrott
Netherlands Eredivisie 11/05/25
W

FC Groningen
0

AZ
3
Netherlands Eredivisie 04/05/25
W

Go Ahead Eagles
0

AZ
3
Netherlands Eredivisie 24/04/25
D

NAC
1

AZ
1
Netherlands Cup 21/04/25
L

Go Ahead Eagles
1 (4)

AZ
1 (2)
Netherlands Eredivisie 13/04/25
L

Heracles
1

AZ
0
Player to watch – Ernest Poku
Ernest Poku has been a highly-rated youngster for some time, but the 21-year-old has started to make good on his promise of late, delivering for his club.

Poku has two goals and an assist in his last four appearances, and will be full of confidence travelling to Heerenveen.