AZ Alkmaar and RKC Waalwijk will clash at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday evening in a game that could have significant implications for both teams' Eredivisie campaigns.
AZ looking to recover from back-to-back maulingsThe home team heads into this game after a 5-0 defeat at Heracles and a 5-1 hammering at PSV Eindhoven.
The results will have come as something of a surprise, considering that AZ had previously mounted a seven-game unbeaten run in the Eredivisie, including three straight victories.
Maarten Mertens’s team will look to get back on track in this encounter. They hope to seal a top-four spot and European qualification next season.
Their current fourth position would see AZ claim a place in the Europa League play-off rounds at the end of the season. After the recent defeats, they are eight points adrift of the Champions League qualifying berth.
AZ has a strong recent home record in the Eredivisie. They have won their last three home games and scored at least twice in all three wins.
Waalwijk still in the relegation battleThe visitors are in 15th place in the table, just two points clear of the league's bottom three and five clear of the automatic relegation zone.
Henk Fraser’s team are winless in four games in the Eredivisie after a 3-2 defeat at Volendam last time out. The defeat also ended a run of three straight draws for the visitors in the Dutch top flight.
Waalwijk have been poor on their travels in recent months, as they are winless in six away games in the Eredivisie, having suffered five defeats and picked up just one draw.
Their recent away games have been relatively low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four games matches on their Eredivisie travels.
What am I backing?The two heavy defeats were no doubt blows for AZ. However, both came away from home, and they will be confident of returning to winning ways on home soil. The bet I am backing is the home win.
