Telstar v AZ: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Telstar host AZ in the Eredivisie on 25 January 2026 in Velsen-Zuid, with the visitors chasing the qualification play-offs and the hosts trying to pull clear of the relegation places.

AZ start the weekend seventh on 29 points, while Telstar are 16th on 16 and in the relegation play-off spot. The sides met in October, when AZ won 2-1.

Form is mixed on both sides. AZ drew 1-1 with Excelsior after a league defeat at PEC Zwolle, though they thumped Ajax 6-0 in the KNVB Beker. Telstar drew 2-2 at Excelsior after losing 3-2 to Ajax, having won 1-0 at NAC Breda the previous league round and progressed in the cup.

AZ are without Sven Mijnans, Denso Kasius, Rome Owusu-Oduro and Mexx Meerdink through injury.

On season trends, AZ average 54% possession and sharper passing, and they have two of the division's leading scorers in Jizz Hornkamp and Troy Parrott, both on 10 league goals. Telstar tend to have less of the ball but deliver plenty from wide areas and have scored five headed goals, so crosses and aerial pressure could be their route in.

A win would lift AZ to 32 points and further consolidate their place in the qualification play-off pack. Three points for Telstar would move them to 19 and could ease the immediate relegation threat by tightening the fight around the bottom three.