AZ v Willem II: title pace-setters meet early strugglers | OneFootball

Eredivisie leaders AZ host Willem II in Alkmaar on 11 September, with the hosts aiming to extend a perfect start while the visitors chase points to move away from the relegation play-off places.

AZ sit top after five wins from five and also took both league meetings in 2024/25, winning 2-1 at home and 2-0 away. Willem II arrive 16th with one point from four games.

Leeroy Echteld's side have scored 16 and conceded five this season, averaging 57% possession with 85.95% passing accuracy and two clean sheets. John Stegeman's team have shipped 13, average 41% possession and 75.53% pass completion, and are winless in the league since promotion, including a 3-0 home loss to Excelsior last time out.

AZ are without Hobie Verhulst, Denso Kasius and Kees Smit through injury. Willem II list several absentees, including goalkeeper Thomas Didillon, defender Justin Hoogma, midfielders Vito van Crooy, Jari Schuurman and Amine Lachkar, forward Armin Culum, and Anass Zarrouk.

Ro Daal leads the Eredivisie scoring charts with four goals, while Mateo Chávez has three assists. That supply-line efficiency could trouble a defence conceding more than three per game. For the visitors, Devin Haen has scored twice and Nathan Tjoe-A-On has two assists, so quick service into Haen may be their route to goal.

A win would take AZ to 18 points and further strengthen their title push. Any positive result for Willem II could ease the pressure and pull them closer to safety, with valuable ground to make up from the relegation play-off zone.