After claiming an impressive 9-0 win over FK Zeta in the return leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs round, d**k Advocaat’s side would be keen to put in another impressive performance against Gertjan Verbeek’s men.
In the fourth round of the Dutch top tier football, PSV Eindhoven will battle against AZ Alkmaar at Philips Stadion on Sunday, September 2.
PSV Eindhoven
Apart from their 3-2 defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/RKC-Waalwijk-c40370 in the opening game of the 2012/13 season, the Boeren have thus far staged brilliant shows this term.
Heading into the match on the back of a thumping 9-0 win over FK Zeta in the UEFA Europa League play-offs round, the Eindhoven giants would be brimming with confidence to claim all three points against the Alkmaar outfit at home.
PSV finished third on the league table last season, despite sitting comfortably at the summit of the table for several weeks. However, the Eindhoven giants have made their intentions clear that they will not be satisfied with their performances if they fail
to lift the Eredivisie title at the end of the ongoing campaign.
AZ received a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday, but the Boeren head coach, d**k Advocaat, expects that the Alkmaar outfit will be gunning to make amends to their heavy defeat in the Europa League play-offs round.
“Yet I expect AZ will be keen to make amends. They will probably have forgotten the Anzhi game by Sunday and will be highly motivated to pull off a good result”, Advocaat was quoted as saying to the club’s official website.
AZ Alkmaar
After crashing out of the Europe’s second tier club competition in a humiliating manner, the Alkmaar outfit’s entire focus will now be on winning the Eredivisie title at the end of the ongoing season.
The AZ boss, Gertjan Verbeek, was all praise for PSV ahead of his side’s upcoming league fixture, and admitted that his side will face another stern test against the Eindhoven giants.
“In recent years, we have found life difficult against PSV. They have pretty good squad. They are the most balanced side in the league. Our aim is to finish in the top five sides, as I think PSV, Ajax and Twente are the favourites to finish in the top three”,
Verbeek said while talking to journalists.
Head-to-Head statistics
PSV have recorded wins in three of their last five encounters against AZ. One match ended in a draw, while the Alkmaar emerged victorious in the remaining encounter.
Players to watch
Tim Matavz – PSV Eindhoven
The Slovenian ace is in fine goalscoring form, and will be looking to keep his good form in front of the goal intact against AZ. The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in his side’s 9-0 win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FK-Zeta-c39360, and would be keen to put in another impressive performance.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jozy-Altidore-c19634 – AZ Alkmaar
The American talisman is currently the leading goal scorer in the Dutch top flight, with four goals already to his name. He would be looking to add more to his tally in the upcoming encounter, and help his side claim a good result.
Prediction
PSV’s impressive current form and the home advantage put them the clear favourites to claim all three points.
Predicted score-line: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571.
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