Our prediction for this KNVB Cup match:
AZ
Match Time & Date:
07/02/2023
11:45 AM
Prediction: 1-1
Utrecht
AZ Alkmaar will be aiming to book their place in the KNVB Beker quarter-finals when they face Utrecht in a highly-anticipated game. AZ dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Volendam at the weekend, but it has to be noted that they failed to turn their dominance into more goals. Top scorer Vangelis Pavlidis should continue to lead the line for the hosts despite failing to find the net in the last league match, while all Bazoer, Beukema, Dekker, Martins Indi, Westerveld, and de Wit have been struggling with injuries of late.
Michael Silberbauer’s troops, on the other hand, aim to build on a hard-fought win over Heerenveen, but beating AZ in Alkmaar is easier said than done. A close encounter is on the cards, and, taking everything into account, we predict that the winner will be decided after extra-time. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
Highlighted Player (Jordy Clasie):
Jordy Clasie is a product of the Feyenoord youth academy who plays for AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder. His main position is defensive midfield, but he is capable of producing fine displays as both central midfielder and centre-back as well.
Clasie played for the likes of Feyenoord, Excelsior (loan), Southampton, and Club Brugge (loan) before returning to Rotterdam. After ending his second spell with Feyenoord, the Dutch footballer joined AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2019. He made his AZ debut in the Eredivisie on August 4, 2019 in a 4-0 win over Fortuna Sittard.
Jordie Clasie has 12 caps with the Netherlands U21 team, and he made his senior debut in a 1-1 draw with Italy on February 6, 2013. Thanks to his elegant style of play, Clasie has earned the nickname of “Dutch Xavi”. The AZ Alkmaar midfielder was born in Haarlem, Netherlands on June 27, 1991.
Highlighted Team (Utrecht):
Established on July 1, 1970, Utrecht is a Dutch club that competes in the Eredivisie. The club was founded as a merger of VV DOS, USV Elinkwijk, and Velox, and it has to be noted that VV DOS did well to win the Eredivisie trophy back in 1958.
Utrecht, on the other hand, have yet to win the national championship, but they have lifted three KNVB Cup trophies (1984/85, 2002/03, 2003/04). Leo van Veen is leading the club’s all-time goal-scoring chart with 153 goals. Speaking of the club’s colours, they were white and red shirts when playing at home, while blue is the dominant colour of their away jersey.
Due to the hooligan clashes, Utrecht have a rivalry with Dutch giants Ajax. The games between the two clubs have always been very tense on the field. Utrecht welcome their rivals at Stadion Galgenwaard, the venue which can hold up to 23,750 people. The stadium was opened back in May 1936.
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