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NEC Nijmegen will welcome AZ Alkmaar to Goffertstadion for an Eredivisie matchday 31 fixture on Sunday.
The hosts are coming into the game on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in the final of the KNVB Beker. Igor Paixao broke the deadlock in the 59th minute to inspire the Rotterdam outfit to their 14th cup title.
NEC will turn their focus back to the league scene where their last game saw them share the spoils in a 2-2 draw at home to Zwolle a fortnight ago.
AZ Alkmaar, meanwhile, came back from two goals down to claim maximum points in a 3-2 home win over Waalwijk. David Min's first-half brace gave the visitors a shock two-goal lead at the break. Yukinari Sugawara, Ibrahim Sadiq and Vangelis Pavlidis scored in the second half to complete the comeback.
The win left them in fourth spot in the table, having garnered 55 points from 33 games. Nijmegen are sixth with 47 points to their name.
NEC vs AZ Alkmaar Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the 85th meeting between the two sides. AZ have 33 wins to their name, and 27 games have ended in draws while Nijmegen were victorious 24 times.
- Their most recent meeting came in December 2023 when Nijmegen claimed a surprise 2-1 away win.
- Six of the last seven head-to-head games have witnessed goals at both ends.
- Five of AZ Alkmaar's last six league games have produced three goals or more.
- NEC are unbeaten in their last nine home games across competitions (eight wins).
- AZ Alkmaar's last four league games have produced at least nine corner kicks.
NEC vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction
NEC have had a remarkable campaign this term, rising from their 12th-placed finish last season to being in the conversation for continental qualification. Roger Meijer's side also made it to the final of the cup and held their own for most of the game in a narrow defeat to Feyenoord.
AZ Alkmaar are also well-primed for qualification to the UEFA Europa League. They rebounded from conceding 10 goals in two games to claim all three points despite an earlier scare against relegation-threatened Waalwijk.
We are backing the two sides to share the spoils in a high-scoring stalemate.
Prediction: NEC 2-2 AZ Alkmaar
NEC vs AZ Alkmaar Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Draw
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
