Preview: RKC Waalwijk vs. AZ Alkmaar - prediction, team news, lineups

AZ Alkmaar make the trip to RKC Waalwijk on Sunday afternoon looking for a win that may keep them at the top of the Eredivisie table.

Meanwhile, the home side begun the season in disappointing fashion, and will need to raise their game against the 2022-23 Europa Conference League semi-finalists.

Match preview

Last season proved to be one of major misses for AZ, finishing just two points behind third-placed Ajax in the Eredivisie and failing to reach a European final.

Nevertheless, optimism has rarely been higher at the Cheeseheads and they have started the campaign with three successive victories in all competitions.

Either side of defeating FC Santa Coloma in the Europa Conference League third qualifying round, AZ were able to thrash Go Ahead Eagles by a 5-1 scoreline in the league.

Pascal Jansen will be delighted with how his side have eased back into competitive action, yet they still have the test of Norwegian side Brann ahead of them in order to reach the group stages of continental football.

For now, though, AZ will focus on trying to make it two wins from two against opposition who have looked off the pace in recent months.

RKC Waalwijk ended the 2022-23 campaign by losing five of their final six matches, conceding 18 goals in the process, and Henk Fraser's team also succumbed tamely at Heerenveen in the first fixture of this season.

Competing on away territory, RKC were three goals down at half time before they regained some respectability in the second half, albeit through netting a penalty.

Although it remains early in the season, Fraser will understand the importance of getting RKC back on track with a relegation battle currently looking far more likely than replicating their ninth-placed finish.

On a positive note, their home form has been more encouraging than their efforts on their travels, with three successive wins coming at the Mandemakers Stadion during the run-in before they conceded five against FC Twente.

RKC Waalwijk Eredivisie form:

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

Team News

Fraser could decide to tinker with his Waalwijk side, despite claiming the second half against Heerenveen last weekend.

Jeffrey Bruma may be handed a start in the centre of defence, but youngster Chris Lokesa could have to remain patient and stay on the substitutes' bench.

Having made no alterations for the European fixture in midweek, Jansen may select the same AZ starting lineup for yet another match.

Between the 62nd and 77th minutes, Jansen rested five players, as he was able to against Go Ahead Eagles, so the majority of his team should be fresh for this contest.

That said, winger Mayckel Lahdo has scored as a substitute in his last two outings, and that may put Jens Odgaard's place in the first XI at risk.

Vaessen; Lelieveld, Gaari, Bruma, Lutonda; Bakkali, Roemeratoe, Felida, Cleonise; Kramer, Min

Ryan; Sugawara, Bazoer, Hatzidiakos, Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans; Odgaard, De Wit, Van Bommel; Pavlidis

We say: RKC Waalwijk 1-3 AZ Alkmaar

Home advantage has the potential to make a difference in this fixture, particularly when AZ are juggling other commitments. Nevertheless, the visitors have been free-scoring in recent games and they have the capabilities to make this a comfortable afternoon's work.