Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs. Sparta Rotterdam - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat, Sparta Rotterdam visit the AFAS Stadion on Sunday to face off against AZ Alkmaar.

Meanwhile, the home side go in search of back to back victories after returning to winning ways last time out.

Match preview

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AZ Alkmaar ended a run of three consecutive stalemates with a 2-1 victory over Fortuna Sittard on Thursday.

Pascal Jansen's men fell behind to Zian Flemming's ninth-minute strike, before hitting back through goals in either half from Vangelis Pavlidis and Jesper Karlsson.

The Cheeseheads have moved up to eighth place on the log and are just two points off the European playoff places.

Awaiting them next is the visit of an opposing side who have lost on their last three trips by a combined score of 9-2.

© Reuters

Sparta Rotterdam fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat versus reigning champions Ajax at the Het Kasteel on Sunday.

Dusan Tadic's 36th-minute strike was enough to condemn Henk Fraser's men to an eighth defeat of the campaign.

As a result, the Red-White Gladiators are in 16th place at the moment and in need of a pick-me-up.

Having scored the joint fewest goals away from home this term, Sunday's visitors will need to get going at the attacking to stand any chance of coming out on top.

Team News

Jordy Clasie was a goalscorer in the last edition of this fixture, and the Dutch midfielder will be looking to come up trumps once again.

Twenty-two-year-old Jelle Duin is ruled out with a knee injury and will not feature for the home side on Sunday.

Maduka Okoye is a doubt for this weekend's contest after he was hauled off midway through the first half in Sparta's last outing.

Benjamin van Leer is in line to replace the aforementioned Okoye should he be deemed unfit to participate.

AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Vindahl; Wijndal, Martins Indi, Chatzidiakos, Sugawara; Midtsjo, Clasie, De Wit; Karlsson, Pavlidis, Gudmundsson

Sparta Rotterdam possible starting lineup:
Van Leer; Masouras, Beugelsdijk, Vriends, Pinto; Abels, Mijnans, Smeets; Auassar, Emegha, Thy

We say: AZ Alkmaar 2-0 Sparta Rotterdam

The onus is more on AZ Alkmaar to take control of proceedings and secure all three points in this one. We fancy them to get the job done in a relatively comfortable manner.

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