FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Match Preview
The Grolsch Veste hosts a tantalizing Eredivisie showdown this Sunday as FC Twente take on AZ Alkmaar. It is a battle between two teams with contrasting recent fortunes. Twente, currently 8th, have become the league’s “draw specialists,” struggling to kill off games but remaining tough to beat.
On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar (3rd) are in a mini-crisis domestically. Despite a morale-boosting European win over Shelbourne in midweek, Maarten Martens’ side has conceded 8 goals in their last two league games (losses to PSV and Heerenveen). With AZ dominating the recent head-to-head record but Twente boasting home advantage, this promises to be an open, attacking affair in Enschede.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar
- Competition: Eredivisie (Matchday 14)
- Venue: De Grolsch Veste, Enschede (Capacity: 30,000)
- Date: Sunday, 30 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 14:30 CET / 13:30 GMT / 19:00 IST
- Referee: Jeroen Manschot
- TV Channel (UK): TrillerTV+
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
- TV Channel (India): Eurosport (Select Matches), TrillerTV+
- Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA)
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
FC Twente:
- Position: 8th in Eredivisie (17 Points).
- Form: Stodgy. They have drawn 3 of their last 4 league games (1-1 vs Volendam, 0-0 vs Telstar, 1-1 vs Groningen). They are hard to beat but lack the killer instinct to turn one point into three.
- Current Challenge: Defensive injuries. With key center-backs Mees Hilgers and Max Bruns out, the backline is makeshift.
AZ Alkmaar:
- Position: 3rd in Eredivisie (24 Points).
- Form: Leaky. Before beating Shelbourne (2-0) in the Conference League, they suffered heavy league defeats to Heerenveen (1-3) and PSV (1-5).
- Current Challenge: Life without Jordy Clasie. The captain and midfield metronome is injured, leaving a massive void in leadership and control.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — What’s at Stake
For FC Twente:
- European Ambitions: Twente are slipping away from the top 5. A win against a direct rival like AZ is essential to bridge the 7-point gap.
For AZ Alkmaar:
- Holding 3rd Place: With Utrecht and Feyenoord breathing down their necks, AZ cannot afford a third consecutive league loss. They need to stabilize their defense immediately.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Team Form
FC Twente (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs FC Volendam (1-1)
- W vs Schalke (1-0 – Friendly)
- D vs Telstar (0-0)
- D vs Groningen (1-1)
- W vs Raalte (4-1 – Cup)
AZ Alkmaar (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Shelbourne (2-0 – UECL)
- L vs Heerenveen (1-3)
- L vs PSV (1-5)
- L vs Crystal Palace (1-3 – UECL)
- W vs Sparta Rotterdam (1-0)
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Team News
FC Twente:
- Mees Hilgers: Out (Knee Injury – Massive loss for the defense).
- Max Bruns: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Naci Ünüvar: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Taylor Booth: Out (Injury).
- Selection: With the defensive crisis, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck or Gustaf Lagerbielke will likely partner Bas Kuipers centrally. Sem Steijn remains the key man in attack.
AZ Alkmaar:
- Jordy Clasie: Out (Ankle Injury – The most critical absence).
- Seiya Maikuma: Out (Knee Injury – Starting Right Back missing).
- Denso Kasius: Out (Injury).
- Mexx Meerdink: Out (Groin Injury).
- Ro-Zangelo Daal: Out (Injury).
- Selection: Peer Koopmeiners or Kristijan Belic will have to step into midfield to replace Clasie. Troy Parrott leads the line.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Head to Head
- 25 May 2025: AZ Alkmaar 3–2 Twente
- 14 May 2025: Twente 2–3 AZ Alkmaar
- 22 Dec 2024: AZ Alkmaar 1–0 Twente
- 05 May 2024: AZ Alkmaar 2–1 Twente
- 13 Jan 2024: Twente 2–1 AZ Alkmaar
- Analysis: AZ Alkmaar owns this fixture recently, winning 4 of the last 5 meetings. Goals are guaranteed—both teams usually score.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Predicted Lineups
FC Twente (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Lars Unnerstall
- RB: Bart van Rooij
- CB: Gustaf Lagerbielke
- CB: Alec Van Hoorenbeeck
- LB: Anass Salah-Eddine
- CDM: Youri Regeer
- CDM: Carel Eiting
- RW: Daan Rots
- CAM: Sem Steijn
- LW: Sayfallah Ltaief
- ST: Sam Lammers
AZ Alkmaar (4-3-3):
- GK: Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro
- RB: Alexandre Penetra (Filling in at RB)
- CB: Wouter Goes
- CB: Bruno Martins Indi (C)
- LB: David Møller Wolfe
- CM: Peer Koopmeiners
- CM: Sven Mijnans
- CM: Kristijan Belic
- RW: Ibrahim Sadiq
- ST: Troy Parrott
- LW: Ruben van Bommel
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Impact Bench Options
FC Twente:
- Ricky van Wolfswinkel: The veteran striker is the ultimate “Plan B.” He scores crucial goals off the bench and provides leadership.
- Mitchell van Bergen: Offers blistering pace if the game opens up in the second half.
AZ Alkmaar:
- Mayckel Lahdo: A tricky winger who can exploit tired legs.
- Ernest Poku: Provides a direct, physical threat if Parrott is being marked out of the game.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Tactical Outlook
FC Twente:
- Playing Style: High Intensity. Joseph Oosting’s side loves to press at home. They will rely heavily on Sem Steijn finding space between AZ’s midfield and defense. With AZ missing Clasie, Steijn should have more freedom than usual.
- Weakness: Makeshift Defense. Without Hilgers and Bruns, Twente are vulnerable to crosses. AZ’s strikers (Parrott) are strong in the air.
AZ Alkmaar:
- Playing Style: Direct & Vertical. AZ play fast. They will look to release Ibrahim Sadiq and Ruben van Bommel quickly on the wings. Without Clasie to recycle possession, they might play more long balls than usual.
- Strength: Head-to-Head Confidence. AZ players know they beat Twente regularly. Mentally, they have the edge.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Sem Steijn vs. Peer Koopmeiners | Playmaker vs. Destroyer: Steijn is the top scorer type. Koopmeiners has huge shoes to fill replacing Clasie. If Steijn wins this, Twente win. | Twente |
| Sam Lammers vs. Bruno Martins Indi | Movement vs. Experience: Lammers drifts wide. Martins Indi prefers a physical battle. Lammers needs to drag him out of position. | Tie |
| Bart van Rooij vs. Ruben van Bommel | Speed Duel: Van Bommel is electric. Van Rooij loves to attack. Who forces whom back? | AZ |
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Spotlight Players
Sem Steijn (FC Twente):
The midfielder is Twente’s primary goal threat. With the strikers sometimes misfiring, Steijn’s ability to arrive late in the box is vital. He needs to exploit the absence of Jordy Clasie.
Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar):
The Irish striker has settled well. He is a handful for defenders and works tirelessly. Against a Twente defense missing its two best center-backs, Parrott should get chances.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Fan Reactions
FC Twente Fans:
“No Hilgers is scary, but AZ just conceded 5 to PSV. We have to attack them!”
“Please, no more draws. We need 3 points.”
AZ Fans:
“Clasie out is a disaster. The midfield looked lost without him against Heerenveen.”
“We always beat Twente. Hopefully, the midweek win fixed our confidence.”
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Match-Defining Factors
- The “Clasie” Void: AZ often look like a different team without Jordy Clasie. If they can’t control the midfield, the Grolsch Veste crowd will smell blood.
- Twente’s Defensive Errors: With a backup CB pairing, communication will be key. AZ’s attack is fast enough to punish any hesitation.
- Goalkeeper Battle: Lars Unnerstall is arguably the best keeper in the league. He often wins points on his own. Can young Owusu-Oduro match him?
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Prediction
Score Prediction: FC Twente 2–2 AZ Alkmaar
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw or Over 2.5 Goals.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Both defenses are depleted).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Sem Steijn.
Analysis: This game has “goals” written all over it. Twente are missing their best defenders, and AZ are missing their midfield shield. AZ have the psychological edge from recent meetings, but their current league form is poor. Twente’s habit of drawing games at home suggests another entertaining stalemate is on the cards.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — Final Word
It’s a clash of two wounded animals in Enschede. FC Twente need to prove they can win big games without their star defenders, while AZ Alkmaar must show they can function without their captain. Expect a chaotic, high-energy match where defenses struggle and attackers thrive.
FC Twente vs AZ Alkmaar — FAQs
When is the Twente vs AZ match?
The match kicks off on Sunday, 30 November 2025, at 14:30 CET.
Is Jordy Clasie playing?
No, AZ captain Jordy Clasie is out with an ankle injury.
Is Mees Hilgers playing?
No, Twente defender Mees Hilgers is out with a knee injury.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can likely stream the match on TrillerTV+ or catch highlights on Eurosport.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Will the “Draw Kings” strike again, or will AZ continue their dominance over Twente? Drop your predictions below!
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