- 1 AZ Alkmaar vs Telstar : the country’s hottest attack meets its quietest
- 2 AZ Alkmaar, only one real scare so far this season
- 3 Telstar, five goals in six games and nothing much up front
- 4 Football Prediction AZ Alkmaar vs Telstar
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Details can change
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
AZ Alkmaar vs Telstar : the country’s hottest attack meets its quietest 
On paper, this is what you call a mismatch.
On Sunday, 20 September at 14:30, AZ Alkmaar host Telstar in round seven of the Eredivisie.
One side has been scoring for fun and sits right up among the title pace-setters. The other is a promoted side, or at best a hopeful underdog, and goals have been a luxury it can barely afford.
Telstar come in with just one win to their name, picked up on opening day in Nijmegen. Since then, they have managed only two points from five games.
Key talking points:
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Heavy artillery in Alkmaar: With 17 goals in six games, AZ are operating at a ridiculous rate and ripping apart almost every defence in the country.
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Gunning for top spot: Still unbeaten this season, AZ are chasing PSV Eindhoven and are only behind on goal difference. Three points are non-negotiable if they want to keep the heat on.
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Telstar up against it: With just five goals in the same stretch, the visitors head to the AFAS Stadion with nowhere near enough firepower to compete on even terms. They will need a defensive miracle to come away with anything.
That run leaves the White Lions just above the relegation zone, with the worst attack in the division.
PSV are in action away to Twente at the same time, which gives AZ the chance to go top by Sunday afternoon.
The recent record points firmly one way. AZ beat Telstar home and away last season, and also knocked them out in the Dutch Cup semi-finals.
That makes it five wins from five official meetings since 2015. AZ’s only defeat in that spell came in a friendly seven years ago.
AZ have scored at least twice in five of their six league matches. The only exception was the draw with Willem II.
AZ Alkmaar, only one real scare so far this season 
Six straight wins in all competitions to start the season. It was a serious pace from Alkmaar.
The first stumble came on 11 September, when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Willem II. Five days later came a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in their Europa League opener.
Those two results knocked the Cheeseheads off top spot, even if they remain unbeaten in league play.
The Eredivisie numbers are still savage: 4-1 at Utrecht, 5-2 against Go Ahead Eagles, 3-2 at Heerenveen. Almost three goals a game.
Before their European setback, Leeroy Echteld’s men had scored first in seven straight matches. Getting in front has become a habit.
They have not lost back-to-back games since a run of three defeats in November 2025, at the end of Maarten Martens’ spell in charge. A response is expected on Sunday.
Denso Kasius, who has a groin problem, and Stije Resink, who is out with a knee issue, are still in the treatment room and have yet to play this season.
Kees Smit is back after missing two matches and featured again against Sunderland. Mexx Meerdink, thrust into the starting role after Troy Parrott’s departure, has four goals or assists in six league games.
The 5-2 win over Go Ahead Eagles remains the best example of what they can do at the AFAS Stadion. Seven goals in one match says plenty about this Alkmaar side.
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Telstar, five goals in six games and nothing much up front 
Five goals in six rounds, the lowest total in the league. That tells the story of Telstar in one line.
They have failed to score in three of their last four matches, and the only two goals in that run came from the penalty spot in a 2-2 draw with Cambuur.
The opening-day 2-1 win in Nijmegen had extended a three-game winning streak that started last season. It meant very little.
Since then, Telstar have been thumped 4-0 by Ajax and lost 1-0 at Twente. Against teams from the top end of the table, the gap is obvious.
To be fair, the back line has held up reasonably well, with only 11 goals conceded. Only Heerenveen have done better among sides outside the top six.
Ronald Koeman Jr has played a big part in that, with a string of important saves. The 0-0 draw at Heerenveen last week summed them up: no clear chances created, but a point banked.
Telstar have not gone six games without a win since the start of the calendar year. A defeat on Sunday would match that run.
Henk Brugge is expected to stick with Sem Valk, who has started the last four league games since arriving from Dordrecht this summer. Abedelnour Soualhia, on loan from AZ, is not allowed to play, which opens the door for Prince Aning.
The 3-1 home defeat to Sparta Rotterdam on matchday two had already set the tone. Since then, the club have not won a single game.
Probable AZ Alkmaar XI: De Busser ; Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, Chávez ; Clasie, Koopmeiners ; Stengs, Kwakman, Daal ; Meerdink
Probable Telstar XI: Koeman Jr ; Aning, Peersman, Valk ; Hardeveld, Rossen, Owusu, Alders ; Brouwer, Mendes ; Thórisson
Football Prediction AZ Alkmaar vs Telstar
Our pick: AZ Alkmaar to win by at least two goals against Telstar
Alkmaar have scored 17 goals in six league games and come into this off the back of 5-2 and 4-1 performances that show exactly how dangerous they are going forward.
Telstar have not scored from open play in four matches and were shipped four at home against Ajax in their last visit from one of the big guns.
The last five official meetings between the clubs have all gone AZ’s way, cup included.
An attack averaging three goals a game against the weakest offence in the country, an opponent annoyed after two games without a win and top spot on the line: AZ Alkmaar should get the job done comfortably. Take the handicap.
Telstar have conceded at least three goals twice this season, against Sparta and Ajax. Against the league’s most productive attack, the margin for error is tiny.
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