The Eredivisie standings tell a tale about these contenders so far, with AZ in front of FC Groningen by 33 points. Here's our preview:
- AZ have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- FC Groningen have the fewest points from losing position (1) in Eredivisie
These are hustling days for the home side, as they had a game only four days ago in the Europa Conference League. At least it's nice to return home after that away game at Lazio.
AZ form and stats
22 points is a decent return from 11 Eredivisie games here at AFAS Stadion for AZ. The data says 6 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Hopes of three in a row are alive for AZ after consecutive victories at their own ground.
AZ are returning here after guesting Lazio in a Europa Conference League match and winning with a 2-1 scoreline. Midfielder Karlsson was the best player on the team with a rating of 7.8 (out of ten) in that game. Karlsson signed up for two assists, hit three key passes and dribled past the opponent 1 of 2 times.
In the game before, an away victory in the Eredivisie match versus Vitesse with a 1-0 scoreline.AZ are believed to win this game, given a winning chance of about 70% by the bookmakers. We have checked our records for their performance in similar circumstances and found 11 matches and the win/draw/lost stats: Won 9, drew 2 and lost 0.
An interesting fact: 15 of the latest 19 league games from this club have seen goals scored by both sides.
The AZ manager Jansen has got the team scoring with 25 from 11 home games in the league. AZ have conceded 15 in these home matches.
FC Groningen form and stats
FC Groningen have only collected 5 points from their away games in the Eredivisie, after 1-2-9 (12 played). Bitter travels for FC Groningen as they have lost six games in a row away from home. The last time they avoided an away-from-home loss was the FC Emmen match.
It might be tough going out on the road again for FC Groningen, facing their second straight away game. Especially as the previous game, ended with a defeat 0-1 versus Feyenoord (placed 1st). Balker, who plays in defense, got the "man of the match" on his team with the rating 7.73. Balker won 4 of 5 duels.
Before that, FC Groningen secured a home win against Excelsior with the score 3-0.The attacking power of Groningen when travelling is not overwhelming with 8 goals scored from 12 league matches away. FC Groningen have conceded 28 goals in these games. Groningen has visited these top teams five times, and 4 of 5 has ended with 2 goals or more!
Head 2 Head
FC Groningen - AZ 1-4 was the scoreline in these sides' latest head to head game, earlier this season. Statistics for the former ten meetings between these two contenders are: five wins for AZ, three draws and two wins for FC Groningen. Over 2,5 goals: four times; under 2,5 goals: six games. The matches between these teams have sometimes been hostile, having seen 6 red cards from the last ten duels.
Top Goalscorers
  V. Pavlidis 11 goals |   R. Pepi 9 goals |  J. Odgaard 8 goals |
AZ missing players
FC Groningen missing players
| AZ | FC Groningen | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 24 | 11 | 4 | Played | P | 5 | 12 | 24 |
| 15 | 6 | 3 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | 4 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Lost | L | 5 | 9 | 15 |
| 50 | 25 | 10 | Scored | S | 2 | 8 | 25 |
| 28 | 15 | 3 | Conceded | C | 18 | 28 | 49 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 92% | 96% |
| 88% | 100% | 100% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 80% | 67% | 71% |
| 62% | 64% | 75% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 80% | 58% | 58% |
| 33% | 36% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 40% | 33% | 38% |
| 21% | 18% | 25% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 40% | 25% | 29% |
| 71% | 82% | 75% | BTTS | BTTS | 40% | 50% | 54% |
| 29% | 18% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 17% | 17% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 60% | 42% | 33% |
| 5.1 | 5.5 | 6.8 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 2 | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 10.6 | 8.1 | 6.8 |
| 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 15.1 | 16 | 15.8 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 4.8 | 8.1 | 11.1 |
| 6.1 | 7.1 | 7 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 1.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 |
| 34% | 32% | 36% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 33% | 27% | 30% |
| 11.8 | 11.1 | 10.5 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 23.4 | 17.2 | 15.7 |
| 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.8 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 8.8 | 6.5 | 5.4 |
- AZ have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- AZ have scored at least twice as many goals at home as FC Groningen have scored away.
- AZ have scored in all their matches so far.
- AZ haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- All of AZ's home-matches have had more than 1,5 goals.
- FC Groningen have conceded at least twice as many corners as they have won away.
- FC Groningen have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored away.
- FC Groningen have the fewest points from losing position (1) in Eredivisie
- FC Groningen have the most conceded goals in the second half (34) in Eredivisie
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Feyenoord | 24 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 54 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 16 | 32 | 55 |
| 2 | Ajax | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 66 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 14 | 43 | 52 |
| 3 | AZ | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 50 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 13 | 22 | 50 |
| 4 | PSV | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 61 | 28 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 20 | 33 | 49 |
| 5 | FC Twente | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 39 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 41 |
| 6 | Sparta Rotterdam | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 26 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 40 |
| 7 | FC Utrecht | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 39 | 37 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 26 | 2 | 37 |
| 8 | RKC Waalwijk | 24 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 37 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 2 | 32 |
| 9 | SC Heerenveen | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 14 | -5 | 31 |
| 10 | NEC | 24 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 30 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 30 |
| 11 | Fortuna Sittard | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 31 | 41 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 21 | -10 | 29 |
| 12 | Go Ahead Eagles | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 34 | 43 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 23 | -9 | 26 |
| 13 | Vitesse | 24 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 18 | -14 | 23 |
| 14 | FC Volendam | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 53 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 28 | -25 | 23 |
| 15 | Excelsior | 24 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 21 | 58 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 36 | -37 | 20 |
| 16 | FC Emmen | 24 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 43 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 28 | -22 | 18 |
| 17 | FC Groningen | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 49 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 28 | -24 | 17 |
| 18 | SC Cambuur | 24 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 40 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -23 | 16 |
