AZ Alkmaar and Go Ahead Eagles are set to lock horns under the floodlights of De Kuip on Monday evening, with the coveted KNVB Beker title hanging tantalisingly in the balance.
With both sides currently level on 46 points in the thick of the European playoff race, lifting silverware here would not only embellish their campaign but also provide a direct gateway into next season's Europa League.
Match preview
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AZ Alkmaar approach this showdown hoping it serves as a much-needed breather from their troubling run, with the Cheese Farmers winless in their last six outings across all competitions, having suffered back-to-back defeats most recently.
Maarten Martens's last triumph dates back to March 13, when they edged Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Europa League clash, but that result proved futile as a 3-1 loss in the return fixture saw them crash out 3-2 on aggregate.
That European exit was followed by three consecutive draws and two defeats in the league – the latest being a 1-0 setback at Heracles last Friday – a sequence that has seen De Kaasboeren slide to sixth place, now 10 points adrift of the UEL slot and making Monday's cup final all the more decisive.
Their journey to this stage began with a home victory over Groningen, after which they navigated a stern test against Ajax in the round of 16, then brushed aside Tweede Divisie outfit Quick Boys before edging Heracles in a gripping semi-final showdown.
AZ were twice pegged back in that thrilling encounter, which ended 2-2 after 120 minutes of pulsating football, before eventually prevailing on penalties to secure their passage to De Kuip.
This marks their third appearance in the final in seven years, having contested back-to-back editions in 2016-17 and 2017-18, though both ended in defeat – a bitter memory Martens's side will be desperate to banish as they chase their first KNVB triumph since lifting the trophy in 2012-13.
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For Go Ahead Eagles, this is just their second dance at the grand stage and a first since 1964-65, when they narrowly lost 1-0 to Feyenoord.
The Deventer-based outfit's road to the final began with a penalty shootout success over Sparta Rotterdam, followed by convincing 3-1 victories against Twente and Noordwijk, before pulling off a statement 2-1 triumph away at PSV in the semi-finals to cap what has been a radiant 2024-25 campaign.
While Paul Simonis's side are without a win in their last three matches, they have already equalled their best-ever top-flight points tally with 46, with five matches to spare, and are on track for a historic finish, presently sitting seventh, a position they have never reached.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in the KNVB Beker, though AZ have enjoyed the upper hand in league encounters across the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie.
Of their 15 previous clashes, Kowet have lost 12 and won just once, with the latest fixture ending 2-2 – their second draw in the series – halting a seven-match losing streak against the Cheese Farmers.
Team News
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AZ are expected to be without Jordy Clasie, Lewis Schouten and Sem Westerveld, with all three still sidelined by injuries.
Moller Wolfe is set to return after serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation and is expected to reclaim his position at left-back, likely pushing Mees de Wit to the bench.
Troy Parrott is tipped to lead the line once again after missing the last game due to unspecified reasons, and if he fails to make the squad, Mexx Meerdink would continue in the number nine role.
Mathis Suray, Go Ahead's leading scorer in this year's competition, will be hoping to add to his tally from the left flank in what is undoubtedly the biggest match of their season.
Having come through their previous fixture without any new injuries, Jakob Breum, Finn Stokkers, Calvin Twigt and Soren Tengstedt are all expected to remain sidelined for the final.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu-Oduro; Wolfe, Indi, Goes, Kasius; Buurmeester, Koopmeiners; Sadiq, Smit, Van Bommel; Parrott
Go Ahead Eagles possible starting lineup:
Busser; Deijl, Krammer, Nauber, Adelgaard; Linthorst, Liansana; Surrey, Edvarsen, Antman; Smit
We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles
Both sides enter this clash short on form, and while AZ have endured a deeper slump, their historic dominance in this fixture may tilt the scales slightly in their favour.
The Cheese Farmers have lifted this trophy on four occasions; their pedigree on nights like this could well prove crucial against a Go Ahead side still adjusting to the demands of the big stage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
