AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax Match Analysis and Prediction

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Ajax will face AZ Alkmaar in the KNVB Beker semi-finals seeking to respond to their surprise Eredivisie defeat at Go Ahead Eagles at the weekend.

The hosts are fourth in the table after a fine run of form since the turn of the year, while Ajax still sit two points clear at the top of the standings.

AZ have been on the best run in Dutch football this season, putting together an 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions since November 7.

Pascal Jansen’s impact at the AFAS Stadion will not be going unnoticed elsewhere, but his focus will be on backing up an exellent campaign with a trophy or qualification for the Champions League.

The Cheeseheads remain seven points off second spot in the Eredivisie with 10 matches remaining, potentially leaving Jansen to throw more at trying to win this competition or the Europa Conference League.

They have reached this stage of the KNVB Beker by defeating Heracles, FC Twente and RCK Waalwijk respectively.

Meanwhile, despite having required a late goal to defeat Willem II on February 13, Erik ten Hag would have rated the performance as a minor glitch over one which had the potential to have longer consequences.

However, after giving up a lead twice in their Champions League match at Benfica, eventually picking up a 2-2 draw, Ajax were on the receiving end of the surprise result of the season.

Go Ahead Eagles entered Sunday’s encounter with the champions on the back of a nine-match winless run in the Eredivisie, but they managed to record a 2-1 victory.

Having scored 19 goals without reply to reach the last four of this competition, they face opponents who have already defeated them this season.

That result came at the Johan Cruijff Arena back in December with Zakaria Aboukhlal’s 83rd-minute goal securing a 2-1 win.

AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax head to head

The two teams have previously met on 58 occasions across all competitions, where Ajax have recorded 33 victories while AZ have won in 13, and they have drawn in 12. AZ have scored 68 goals and conceded 123. In their last five encounters, AZ have won twice and Ajax in three.

Ajax 0-2 AZ 01/03/20

AZ 0-1 Ajax 20/01/21

AZ 0-3 Ajax 31/01/21

Ajax 2-0 AZ 25/04/21

Ajax 1-2 AZ 12/12/21

AZ Alkmaar latest home form

AZ have been on a good run of form at home so far, and they have been unbeaten in their ten most recent matches. They managed to defeat Feyenoord 2-1 in their last home league match. In their last five matches, they have scored 9 goals and conceded just three.

AZ 4-1 Willem II 18/12/21

AZ 1-0 Groningen 21/12/21

AZ 0-0 Cambuur 22/01/22

AZ 2-1 Heracles 19/02/22

AZ 2-1 Feyenoord 27/02/22

AZ Akmaar latest away form

AZ have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their nine most recent away matches. They managed to defeat RCK Waalwijk 4-0 in the KNVB Beker on February 9. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded just four.

Fortuna Sittard 1-2 AZ 16/01/22

Twente 1-2 AZ 19/01/22

PSV 1-2 AZ 05/02/22

RCK Waalwijk 0-4 AZ 09/02/22

Go Ahead Eagles 1-4 AZ 13/02/22

Ajax latest home form

Ajax have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. They managed to defeat Vitesse 5-0 in the KNVB Beker on February 9. In their last five matches, they have scored 27 goals keeping clean sheets in the process.

Ajax 5-0 Fortuna Sittard 22/12/21

Ajax 9-0 Excelsior Maassluis 20/01/22

Ajax 3-0 Heracles 06/02/22

Ajax 5-0 Vitesse 09/02/22

Ajax 5-0 Twente 13/02/22

Ajax latest away form

Ajax have most recently been on a poor form on the road, having failed to win in the two most recent away matches. They lost their last away league game 2-1 to Go Ahead Eagles. In their last five away matches, they have won three, drawn one and lost one.

Utrecht 0-3 Ajax 16/01/22

PSV 1-2 Ajax 23/01/22

Willem II 0-1 Ajax 19/02/22

Benfica 2-2 Ajax 23/02/22

Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Ajax 27/02/22

AZ Alkmaar news

Despite the Cheeseheads having to work hard to defeat Feyenoord at the weekend, home advantage and an extra day’s rest may encourage Jansen to select the same starting XI.

Jesper Karlsson is AZ’s leading marksman this season, but his only two goals from his last six appearances have come from the penalty spot.

Ajax news

Ten Hag is likely to make several changes to his first XI, with Ryan Gravenberch expected to feature in midfield, while Noussair Mazraoui may get the nod at right-back.

Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is out for the season with a hip injury, while Nicolas Tagliafico will hope for a start on the opposite flank.