Saturday, January 21, 2012

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22.01. (Sun) 14:30 AZ Alkmaar - Ajax

Siem de Jong scores for Ajax against AZ
PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AZ



Esteban

Reijnen, Moisander, Viergever, Poulsen

Maher, Martens, Elm

Beerens, Benschop, Holman
Ajax



Vermeer
Ligeon, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita
Enoh, Eriksen, Janssen
Sulejmani, De Jong, Aissati

AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek has no notable injury worries ahead of Sunday's game, with Roy Beerens and Nick Viergever both expected to feature despite picking up minor knocks in Thursday's 3-2 KNVB Beker win over the same opponents.

Charlison Benschop is likely to get the nod again up front at the expense of Jozy Altidore, while Etienne Reijnen is expected to start ahead of Dirk Marcellis.

Ajax boss Frank de Boer will have to make do without the services of long-term injury concern Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, while Nicolai Boilesen still is not yet fully match-fit either.

Additionally, both right-back Gregory van der Wiel and winger Derk Boerrigter are both unavailable due to injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • AZ are currently sitting atop of the Eredivisie table with a one-point lead over second-placed PSV. 
  • The hosts' goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado (pictured) has already kept nine clean sheets so far this season.
  • The 2009 Eredivisie champions have already netted 23 goals at home in the current campaign, conceding only twice.
  • Ajax are the league's number-four side at the moment with 33 points from 17 games.
  • Miralem Sulejmani is the Amsterdam side's leading goalscorer at this stage with 11 strikes to his name.
  • The away side have won their last four league games, scoring 12 goals and conceding just once.
Prediction
AZ have been in outstanding form at the Afas Stadium this season and only PSV and Feyenoord have managed to score on their turf in the league. Ajax thus await a difficult task to bag the full three points on Sunday and it will not be a surprise if AZ come out winners. The table-toppers beat their regional rivals 3-2 in the KNVB Beker on Thursday and AZ are therefore the favourites to win by a slight margin.
Editor's Prediction
AZ 2-1 Ajax