An exciting matchup is set to kick off this Thursday, September 28 as AZ faces Heracles in a Eredivisie showdown at the Afas Stadion Stadium in Alkmaar. Both teams will need to battle the cool 61 degree Fahrenheit and potentially rainy conditions in order to secure the win. This opponent duel is quite familiar to the clubs as this marks the second time AZ and Heracles battle it out in the Eredivisie in 2022, with AZ leading the last game 2-1. Don’t miss out on this exhilarating game as all eyes will be on who will prevail!

AZ have been a force to be reckoned with at home, clinching 4 wins and 1 draw in their last 5 matches at the Afas Stadion, a venue that has welcomed 11 goals in total in those fixtures. However illness has deprived some important components of the team, including S. Westerveld, R. Owusu-Oduro, B. Martins Indi, M. de Wit, M. Meerdink, during this crucial time. Fortunately, V. Pavlidis has stepped up and scored a formidable 3 goals in the last 3 matches across all competitions, and is on a good run of form as he looks to make an impact in the upcoming match.

Heracles have achieved a string of promising results lately, with victories in two out of their last five encounters. They've been in strong offensive action too, with nine goals in their past 5 matches. Sitting 10th in the table, Heracles have accumulated 7 points from their five matches: 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. Unfortunately, they will be without the presence of M. de Wit, who is currently injured. Nevertheless, B. De Keersmaecker has shown great goal-scoring potential away from home, having already netted 1 goal in two away games this season. It's likely we'll see him continue to excel in the upcoming match, as he is fit and ready to take to the pitch.

The past 7 matches between AZ and Heracles have seen an average of 3.71 goals per game, but AZ have dominated the overall series with 29 wins, 4 draws and 5 victories for Heracles. All eyes are on these two clubs as they prepare to battle it out again, hoping the next installment will see another exciting match filled with plenty of action.

With 12 points in AZ's possession, they have an opportunity to seize first place in the Eredivisie standings. This should serve as a source of motivation to the ambitious squad and galvanize them to exceed their goals for the season. Their trajectory to the top of the table serves as proof of their character and capabilities to achieve heightened accomplishments.