Feb 9, 2007, 22:29 GMT
Alkmaar, Holland - AZ got its biggest win of the season last weekend, a 3-2 defeat of league-leaders PSV that trimmed the Alkmaar club's deficit to just six points at the top of the standings.
Now that a league title is within reach, AZ has no plans of slowing down now. On Saturday they welcome a struggling Willem II club to Alkmaarder Hout, which bodes well for the home side. Willem have conceded the most goals in Holland this season, while AZ have scored the most, a formula that has AZ striker Danny Koevermans salivating. Koevermans leads the club with 16 goals this season and will be looking to add to that total on Saturday.
Head coach Louis van Gaal's team has been in great form with three wins in its last three league games. However, the boss will have a number of injury issues to contend with on Saturday, as Joey Didulica (ankle), Stijn Schaars (ankle), Simon Cziommer (thigh) and Gijs Luirink (illness) are all expected to miss the contest.
The visitors have taken just two points from their last four matches and have injury woes of their own. Mounir el Hamdaoui, Edwin Hermans, Jose Valencia, Jonathan Wilmet and Arjan Swinkels are all battling injuries and are doubtful to suite up.
With contests against Groningen and Ajax later this month, three points are a must for AZ if they are to contend for the league crown. Willem is just trying to stay in Holland's top-flight league and is in a relegation battle. Points have not been easy to come by this season for Willem, and they shouldn't expect to come away with any on Saturday.
On Friday, Groningen doubled up on Excelsior, 2-0 at Stad Rotterdam Verzekeringen Stadion.
In other Eredivisie play on Saturday, Heerenveen, looking to keep a spot in Europe, hosts Vitesse, who is trying to get one itself, Roda and NEC are separated by just two points in the middle of the table and meet up at Parkstad Limburg Stadion and last-place RKC Waalwijk look for a rare win at home against Heracles.
On Sunday, second-place Ajax tries to keep its winning ways against Den Haag, Twente hosts Feyenoord in a clash of top-five teams, NAC visits Utrecht and league-leaders PSV try to break their slump with an away trip to Sparta.
WEEKEND EREDIVISIE FIXTURES:
FRIDAY
FC Groningen 2, Excelsior 0
SATURDAY
Heerenveen - Vitesse Arnhem
Roda - NEC Nijmegen
AZ Alkmaar - Willem II
RKC Waalwijk - Heracles
SUNDAY
ADO Den Haag - Ajax Amsterdam
Twente - Feyenoord
FC Utrecht - NAC Breda
Sparta Rotterdam - PSV Eindhoven
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