AZ and Go Ahead Eagles enter an early test of ambition
AZ Alkmaar and Go Ahead Eagles meet on 29 August at 18:45 at the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar, in the fourth round of the 2026/2027 Eredivisie. The fixture comes early enough in the season that the table does not yet provide definitive answers, but the start made by both teams already makes this encounter more interesting than an ordinary match at the end of August.
According to the standings before the start of the third round, AZ had a maximum six points from two matches and a goal difference of 6:1. Go Ahead Eagles were third with four points and a goal difference of 6:3. It is important to stress that those figures will change before the head-to-head meeting: AZ visit Fortuna Sittard in the third round, while Go Ahead Eagles host ADO Den Haag a day later.
AZ opened the new league season with a 2:0 victory against ADO Den Haag at the AFAS Stadion. Ro-Zangelo Daal and Calvin Stengs scored the goals. A week later, Leeroy Echteld's team produced an even stronger result: they defeated FC Utrecht 4:1 away from home. Peer Koopmeiners, Weslley Patati, Mexx Meerdink and Ayoub Oufkir were among the scorers on that occasion.
That means AZ's first six league goals were scored by six different players. Echteld highlighted precisely that variety as a consequence of an attacking approach in which several players enter the opposition penalty area. For Go Ahead Eagles, this creates an important tactical problem: it is not enough to shut down one striker and expect that to stop the home side.
Go Ahead Eagles also opened the season unbeaten. Willem II took the lead in Deventer, but Joseph Oosting's team responded with four goals and won 4:1. The scorers were Søren Tengstedt, Melle Meulensteen, Erik Hovden Flataker and Julius Dirksen. The next round provided an even more convincing display of character. Feyenoord led 2:0 at half-time in Rotterdam, but Go Ahead Eagles came back through goals from Tengstedt and Stefán Ingi Sigurðarson to make it 2:2.
- AZ won their first two league matches with an aggregate goal difference of 6:1.
- Go Ahead Eagles took four points from their first two rounds while scoring six goals.
- Søren Tengstedt scored in both of Go Ahead Eagles' first two league appearances.
- Six different players scored AZ's first six league goals.
- Both teams play one more league match before the encounter in Alkmaar.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters. An additional reason is the fact that last season's league meetings between these clubs did not produce a winner.
AZ seek a new attacking balance after Parrott's departure
The most important change at AZ ahead of the closing stages of August happened off the pitch. Troy Parrott left Alkmaar and joined Real Betis on 20 August. For Leeroy Echteld, this changes the distribution of minutes and responsibilities in attack just as the league schedule begins to accelerate.
Immediately before the match against Fortuna Sittard, the AZ coach confirmed the return of Jordy Clasie and Jizz Hornkamp to the squad. After several months out, Hornkamp was still in the process of increasing his workload, while Clasie was said to be ready to play, but not to start the match. Their condition up to 29 August should be monitored through new club updates, so it is not justified to claim in advance how many minutes they will play against Go Ahead Eagles.
Meanwhile, other players have already shown they can carry a larger share of the burden. Mexx Meerdink scored in Utrecht, Ro-Zangelo Daal found the net against ADO, while Patati demonstrated against FC Utrecht just how dangerous he can be when AZ manage to put their attackers into one-on-one situations or create space on the edge of the penalty area.
The midfield is particularly worth watching. Dave Kwakman was given a significant role while Clasie was not fully fit, and Echteld praised his development and maturity after the victory in Utrecht. Peer Koopmeiners has already added a goal. Kees Smit is also part of a group of technically strong midfielders who allow AZ's attack not to depend solely on conventional centre-forward finishing.
Another interesting connection between the clubs can be found in AZ's goal. Jari De Busser arrived this summer from Go Ahead Eagles and signed a contract with AZ until mid-2031. He was in the starting line-up against FC Utrecht. His ability with the ball at his feet fits the idea of a team that wants to build attacks in a controlled manner from the back line, and facing his former club also adds an extra personal dimension to the match.
How AZ can attack Go Ahead Eagles
The clearest indication from the opening matches is the number of players who arrive in finishing positions. AZ did not get their six league goals from one dominant scorer, but from different lines of the team. That makes it more difficult for the opponent to decide whom to track as the move develops towards the penalty area.
For Go Ahead Eagles, it will be particularly important to prevent AZ from freely finding an unmarked player between midfield and defence. If the visitors drop their defensive line too deep, AZ can create pressure through a second wave of midfield runners. If they press the ball more aggressively, the home side gain space behind the first line of pressure.
Parrott's departure nevertheless means that AZ are entering a transitional period in attack. Meerdink has already shown he can finish moves, Hornkamp is returning, and Echteld has several different attacking profiles available. The question before the match against Go Ahead Eagles will not only be who starts up front, but how AZ distribute the movement around that player.
Go Ahead Eagles show energy and depth under Oosting
Joseph Oosting took charge of Go Ahead Eagles this summer and signed a two-year contract. The opening matches have already shown a team capable of reacting when the score begins to move in the wrong direction. Against Willem II, they conceded first before four different players turned the match around. Against Feyenoord, the response was even more demanding because they had to recover from two goals down away from home.
Tengstedt has found consistency in front of goal most quickly. He scored against both Willem II and Feyenoord. Sigurðarson scored the equaliser in Rotterdam, while Meulensteen, Flataker and Dirksen have already shown that the threat can also come from other areas.
Joris Kramer remains an important figure in the back line. A few days before the third round, the captain extended his contract until mid-2029. Kramer also has a personal connection with Alkmaar because he played for Go Ahead Eagles in the 2020/2021 season on loan from AZ. For a team going away to face an AZ side in attacking form, his organisation of the defence will be particularly important.
The injury situation requires caution. In their preview of the opening league round, Go Ahead Eagles announced that Gerrit Nauber, Robbin Weijenberg and Pim Saathof were unavailable because of injuries. The club's preview of the match against ADO Den Haag on 21 August did not provide a new detailed list of absentees. Their status for the trip to Alkmaar therefore should not be declared either positive or negative in advance without a new update from the club.
Where the visitors can cause problems
Coming back from 0:2 to draw 2:2 against Feyenoord showed that Go Ahead Eagles are not a team that must control the score from the first minute in order to remain dangerous. Oosting's side found space for Tengstedt and Sigurðarson in the second half and, according to their own report, also had chances late on to complete the turnaround.
For AZ, what happens after losing the ball is therefore crucial. Having a high number of home players in finishing positions can be an advantage while AZ are attacking, but at the same time it creates an opportunity for transition if possession is lost at the wrong moment. Go Ahead Eagles have enough mobile forwards and midfielders to turn such situations into direct attacks.
Another detail is set pieces and players arriving from deeper positions. The very fact that Dirksen, a defender, was among the scorers in the opening league match is a warning that AZ's defence cannot focus only on the most advanced attackers.
The last two league meetings ended without a winner
Last season provides a good reason not to regard Go Ahead Eagles as a straightforward home assignment for AZ. Both league meetings ended in draws.
At the AFAS Stadion on 7 December 2025, the score was 2:2. Melle Meulensteen scored both of Go Ahead Eagles' goals, including the equaliser in the second half. AZ were therefore denied the full reward in front of their own supporters.
The return match in Deventer on 23 April 2026 ended 0:0. According to the statistics, AZ had more attempts on goal, but neither team managed to find the net. Two draws in one season give this match a clear tactical backdrop: Go Ahead Eagles already have fresh proof that they can remain competitive against AZ both at home and in Alkmaar.
- AZ - Go Ahead Eagles, 7 December 2025: 2:2.
- Go Ahead Eagles - AZ, 23 April 2026: 0:0.
- Go Ahead Eagles did not lose either of last season's two league meetings with AZ.
- Melle Meulensteen scored both of the visitors' goals in the most recent league meeting at the AFAS Stadion.
For the home side, this match is therefore an opportunity to end the run of draws against Go Ahead Eagles. For the visitors, it is a test of whether their good start to the new season can also carry over into an away match against a team that stood top of the table after the first two rounds.
AFAS Stadion: a compact venue for a high-intensity match
The AFAS Stadion is located at Stadionweg 1 in Alkmaar. It opened in August 2006 as the successor to Alkmaarderhout. Following a major reconstruction of the roof and stadium facilities, capacity was increased to 19,500 spectators. The renovated version of the stadium opened in 2021, and the club particularly highlights the improved acoustics.
That is an important detail for a match in which both teams have already made a good start in terms of results. When the home side manage to raise the tempo early, the enclosed structure of the stands and relatively compact capacity can amplify the sense of pressure on the visiting defence. Go Ahead Eagles, however, come from the environment of De Adelaarshorst and are not a team unfamiliar with an intense atmosphere.
Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly. For visitors arriving from other cities, the simplest starting point by public transport is Alkmaar railway station.
Getting to the stadium and parking
AZ operate a clearly organised traffic system around the stadium for home matches. Visitors travelling by car should be particularly aware that they cannot rely on the usual parking areas immediately next to the stands.
- The stadium address is Stadionweg 1, 1812 AZ Alkmaar.
- On matchdays, parking areas P1 to P7 are reserved for guests with the appropriate parking entitlement.
- For other visitors, the club provides parking in the P8 and P9 areas near Verlengd Zeezicht.
- Free shuttle buses to the stadium depart from behind Alkmaar railway station, with the first services leaving two hours before the start of the home match.
- After the match, shuttle buses towards the railway station depart from beneath the viaduct between the AFAS Stadion and P8.
For an 18:45 kick-off, this means it is worth planning to arrive in Alkmaar sufficiently early, especially when using the pre-match shuttle. Visitors arriving by car should follow local traffic signs because vehicle routing varies depending on the direction from which the city is approached.
The exact opening time of the gates for AZ - Go Ahead Eagles had not yet been specifically announced in the sources available on 22 August. Rather than assuming a standard time, it is more practical to check the latest information for this particular match immediately before travelling.
Alkmaar before the match
For supporters coming from outside the city, Alkmaar makes it easy to combine a football day with time in the city. The railway station is also a practical point from which to continue towards the stadium because of the organised shuttle buses on home matchdays.
The AFAS Stadion is not located in the historic city centre itself, so it is useful to decide in advance whether the main purpose of the visit is the match or whether time will be spent in the centre before heading towards the stadium. With an evening kick-off at 18:45, the schedule leaves enough room for an earlier arrival, but the return journey towards the stadium should not be left until the last moment because of the larger number of people moving in the same direction.
What will have the biggest influence on the match
The first factor is the breadth of AZ's attack. Six goals from six different scorers after two rounds show that the visitors cannot organise their defence around just one name. If Meerdink, Daal, Patati and the midfielders continue to arrive in finishing positions from different areas, Go Ahead Eagles will need to maintain very good communication between the defensive and midfield lines.
The second is Go Ahead Eagles' transition play. The result in Rotterdam showed how dangerous the team can be once they find their rhythm after the break. AZ will want to have a large number of players around the opposition penalty area, but every lost ball behind that pressure creates space in which Tengstedt and the other attackers can accelerate the play.
The third is the development of the squad situation during the week. AZ are adapting to life without Parrott, Hornkamp is only just increasing his workload, and Clasie is returning after injury. At Go Ahead Eagles, new updates concerning players who missed the beginning of the league campaign need to be monitored. Because of the third-round matches, both teams will also arrive in Alkmaar with completely fresh information about form and physical condition.
The fourth is the psychological detail from last season. Go Ahead Eagles avoided defeat against AZ twice, including a 2:2 draw at the AFAS Stadion itself. The home side therefore cannot simply rely on their strong start to the new season and their position in the table after the first two rounds.
Everything points to a match in which AZ will try to gain territorial control and bring as many players as possible into finishing positions, while Go Ahead Eagles have reason to believe they can withstand the initial pressure and respond when space appears. It is worth securing tickets in good time, while visitors travelling to Alkmaar will also benefit from organising their journey to the stadium in advance.
Sources:
- AZ.nl - Definitief competitieprogramma eerste elftal bekend: confirmed date, time and schedule of the opening rounds of the 2026/2027 season.
- Go Ahead Eagles - Eerste Selectie - Stand: league standings, points and goal difference after the first two rounds.
- AZ.nl - Echteld: We doen dit met elkaar, als een team: AZ's form, six different scorers, Troy Parrott's departure and the condition of Jordy Clasie and Jizz Hornkamp.
- AZ.nl - AZ - ADO Den Haag and FC Utrecht - AZ: results and scorers from the first two league rounds.
- Go Ahead Eagles - Go Ahead Eagles begint competitie overtuigend tegen Willem II: 4:1 result and scorers from the opening match of the season.
- Go Ahead Eagles - Go Ahead Eagles pakt knap punt in de Kuip: 2:2 result against Feyenoord, course of the match and scorers.
- Go Ahead Eagles - Vooruitblik Go Ahead Eagles - ADO Den Haag: state of the team after two rounds and comments from coach Joseph Oosting.
- Go Ahead Eagles - Vooruitblik Go Ahead Eagles - Willem II: list of injured players published before the first round.
- Go Ahead Eagles - Aanvoerder Joris Kramer verlengt contract tot medio 2029: captaincy status, contract duration and his previous connection with AZ.
- AZ.nl - De Busser langdurig verbonden aan AZ: Jari De Busser's transfer from Go Ahead Eagles and his contract with AZ.
- AZ.nl - AFAS Stadion and Praktische informatie: capacity, stadium history, parking and shuttle buses on matchdays.
- AZ.nl - AZ - Go Ahead Eagles, 7 December 2025 and Go Ahead Eagles - AZ, 23 April 2026: results of the last two league head-to-head meetings.