Excelsior v AZ: play-off push meets unbeaten run | OneFootball

Excelsior host AZ in the Eredivisie on Saturday, 14 February 2026 at Stadion Woudestein, with the visitors looking to strengthen their European play-off spot and the hosts aiming to extend their unbeaten league run from 12th.

The reverse fixture in January finished 1-1. AZ arrive seventh on 33 points, while Excelsior sit 12th with 26.

Excelsior are unbeaten in five league games, winning at NAC Breda and drawing with Ajax and FC Twente. AZ's recent league form is mixed after a draw with Ajax, defeat to NEC Nijmegen and a win at Telstar, though they also beat FC Twente in the cup.

AZ are without suspended Peer Koopmeiners and injured Sven Mijnans, Denso Kasius, Seiya Maikuma, Rome Owusu-Oduro, Kees Smit and Mexx Meerdink. Excelsior list Noah Naujoks as injured. In attack, Troy Parrott is on 11 league goals and Jizz Hornkamp has 10.

Across the season, AZ tend to control games with 53% possession and 82.10% pass completion, producing 249 shots with 51% shooting accuracy. Excelsior average 45% possession and 77.55% passing accuracy. The match-up could pit AZ's build-up against a compact home side with five clean sheets, while the hosts may look to exploit an AZ defence that has conceded 36 league goals.

A home win would take Excelsior to 29 points and could nudge them towards the top half. Victory for AZ would move them to 36 points and could improve their seventh-place standing in the European qualification play-off picture.