AZ Alkmaar
AZ was allowed to compete for a place at the top of the rankings for a long time, but due to a disappointing month of January, the team of trainer Pascal Jansen has definitively let go of list captain Ajax. The deficit in first place has now risen to eleven points, and the team from Amsterdam also has one match credit. That is why the focus will now be entirely on second place, which is currently occupied by PSV, as a final ranking as runner-up will result in a ticket for the preliminary round of the Champions League.
Last weekend, the Alkmaarders suffered another damage when the club went down with a three-man defense on a visit to Vitesse: 2-1. After the meeting, the Dutch analysts were not in the least impressed by the strategic choices of trainer Jansen. The most frequently heard critical notes related to the late insertion of Jesper Karlsson, who made an essential difference with individual actions and provided the tying goal. In addition, there would be too great a lack of football ability in the central heart of the defense, consisting of Timo Letschert, Pantelis Hatzidiakos and Bruno Martins Indi. It remains to be seen whether the AZ trainer will respond to the points of criticism.
Twente
Just like the opponent of the next round of play, Twente also had a difficult opening phase in the new calendar year. The downward trend on which the Tukkers are currently heading was finally started in mid-January, when the club lost 1-3 to Ajax. Of the nine league matches that followed, coach Ron Jans’ team only managed to win one; there was a draw six times and two duels were lost. Last weekend it went wrong again for Twente. In-house, three points seemed to be pulled out of the fire against Willem II, but in the final phase the club from Enschede still capitulated: 1-1.
Due to the new loss of points, Twente has fallen just outside the top seven of the rankings, which means that, provided that the score remains that way until the last round of play, the play-offs for European football will be seized. So there is still a lot of catching up to do, although in AZ no opponent is hit that is simply played under the mat. In fact, the last five matches in Alkmaar were all lost.
Football Prediction of the Day AZ Alkmaar vs Twente
The most beautiful poster of the football Saturday in the Eredivisie in advance takes place in the AFAS Stadium, where AZ is visited by FC Twente. The encounter in the first half of the season ended in a 1-3 victory for the Alkmaarders. What can be expected from the subtopper this weekend?
Prediction Today: AZ Alkmaar to win
Odds: 1.43
