AZ Alkmaar vs Almere City Best odds and tips

AZ Alkmaar have won two and drawn one of their last three Eredivisie games against Almere City, who have never won away at AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch top flight. AZ are on a two-game winning streak in the league after beating Go Ahead Eagles 3-0 away and FC Groningen 3-0 at home. Maarten Martens, who took over as head coach in January 2024, has introduced a bold, attacking system that is finally bearing fruit. The Cheese Heads have won eight, drawn three and lost five of their 16 Eredivisie home games this season, so the bookies are right to make them 1.86 favourites to beat Almere City on Sunday. The visitors are big outsiders at 4.33 to take all three points.

Jeroen Rijsdijk took over at the bottom club in January 2025 and has tried to steady the ship by keeping things tight and organised. But the results have not really come. City sit 18th in the table with 20 points from 32 games and have won none of their last five league games (D2, L3). They have won two, drawn four and lost ten of their 16 Eredivisie away games this season, so the stats do not favour them on Sunday.

AZ are sixth in the Eredivisie with 53 points from 32 games and have been consistently good all season. Martens’ system is based on possession and high pressing, with fluid 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 shapes that allow them to dominate the ball and territory. Almere City will sit deep and try to frustrate their opponents with a compact block, hoping to nick a goal on the counter-attack at some stage. But AZ have enough creativity and quality to break through, particularly with Troy Parrott leading the line. The Irishman has scored 14 goals in 28 Eredivisie games this season and is a big game player, who always seems to find the space in the box and finishes with the accuracy of a sniper. A bet on AZ to win to nil looks good here, given their home form and the fact that Almere have conceded 27 goals in 16 Eredivisie away games. Junior Kadile has scored four goals in 28 Eredivisie games for Almere this season, but two of them have come in the last three games. AZ’s pursuit of Europe and Almere’s battle for survival should make for an intriguing clash on Sunday.