http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/VVV-Venlo-c40915 vs. AZ Alkmaar: Maguire and Elm to battle – Dutch Eredivisie preview
In the eighth round of Eredivisie, VVV-Venlo and AZ Alkmaar will go head-to-head at Stadion De Koel on Sunday, October 2. The home side would be looking to register their first win of the season while AZ would be hoping to secure all three points to cement
their position atop the league table.
VVV-Venlo
Venlose Trots are coming into this match on the back of a demoralising 2-0 defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/ADO-Den-Haag-c38221. Although ADO were not performing at their best in front of their home crowd, they still managed to cruise to an easy win against a struggling
VVV.
The Good Old are yet to secure their first victory of the 2011/12 season. Struggling to achieve good results, they currently occupy 17th spot on the Eredivisie table.
VVV have performed better at their home ground, losing only once in four matches. They have an overall record of 7 played, 3 drawn and 4 lost.
Venlose Trots manager Glen de Boeck would be hoping that his side register their first victory against an in-form AZ side and improve their current standing.
The tactician revealed that his side has so far played against top Dutch teams this season and believes that his side has done well to secure three points in seven matches.
“Seven played and three points, it may seem a miserable result. However, I do not entirely agree. When one looks to our program, you see that six of our seven matches were against the current top ten.
“After the game against AZ, we will play against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Feyenoord-c39258. Only then, we will play the teams, which do not compete for the top five in Eredivisie. Then we will see that where VVV stands”, De Boeck said while talking to the media.
AZ Alkmaar
The Alkmaar outfit are brimming with confidence, having won five Eredivisie matches in a row. They are currently sitting at the summit of the Eredivisie table, leading the second placed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 Enschede by two points.
AZ have performed exceptionally in front of their home crowd, while their away form has been decent as well. They have an overall record of 7 played, 6 won and 1 lost.
AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek will be looking to bag maximum points in this encounter and keep intact their position atop.
Head-to-Head statistics
VVV have not managed to register a single win in their last five encounters against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571. The outfit from Alkmaar emerged victorious in four matches while the remaining one fixture ended in a stalemate.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barry-Maguire-c7313 – VVV-Venlo
The 21-year-old arrived at Stadion De Koel earlier this summer from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Utrecht-c39237, and has proved his worth in the midfield. The youngster has so far featured in every match this season.
The midfielder provided solid performances in the centre of the pitch against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PSV-c40281 Eindhoven and Ajax Amsterdam. However, he will certainly be put under pressure to win the midfield battle against an in-from AZ side.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rasmus-Elm-c30628 – AZ Alkmaar
The Swedish International is in fine form this season. He has already scored five goals along with two assists in seven appearances and is looking to add more to his tally. It will be hard for the hosts to restrict the 23-year-old from scoring or even creating
opportunities.
Prediction
AZ’s current form indicates that they will be bagging all three points without much hassle. It will be an easy 1-3 win for the Alkmaar outfit.
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