Match Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs Olympiacos - Club Friendly
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM UTC (4:00 PM EAT) Venue: AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar, Netherlands
Football fans are set for an intriguing club friendly as Dutch side AZ Alkmaar host Greek giants Olympiacos at the AFAS Stadion. Both teams will be looking to fine-tune their squads and tactics as they continue their pre-season preparations ahead of competitive fixtures.
Head-to-Head
The historical record between these two sides is limited, with only three previous encounters since 2009. Olympiacos holds the advantage with two wins to AZ Alkmaar's zero, with one draw. Their most recent meeting in a friendly in July 2022 saw Olympiacos secure a 1-0 victory.
AZ Alkmaar Form & Team News
AZ Alkmaar has had a mixed bag of results in their recent friendly matches. They've shown their attacking prowess, scoring multiple goals in some encounters, but also displayed some defensive vulnerabilities, notably in their recent 4-3 defeat to Ilves in a UEFA Conference League qualifier. They will be keen to address these defensive issues against a strong Olympiacos side.
While specific injury reports for this friendly are usually kept under wraps, AZ Alkmaar has seen some player movement in the transfer window. Key departures include Ruben van Bommel and Jayden Addai, while new arrivals like Isak Steiner Jensen and Mateo Chávez will be looking to integrate into the squad.
Recent Form (Last 5 Friendlies/Competitive Matches):
Ilves 4 - 3 AZ Alkmaar (UEFA Conference League Qualifier)
AZ Alkmaar 2 - 1 NK Lokomotiva Zagreb (Friendly)
KAA Gent 1 - 2 AZ Alkmaar (Friendly)
AZ Alkmaar 3 - 2 Almere City FC (Friendly)
AZ Alkmaar 3 - 2 Aris Thessaloniki (Friendly)
Olympiacos Form & Team News
Olympiacos comes into this friendly in excellent form, boasting a strong run of victories in their recent outings. They have demonstrated defensive solidity and an effective attack, including a recent 3-0 win over Norwich City. As they prepare for their domestic league and European commitments, they will aim to maintain this momentum.
Olympiacos has also been active in the transfer market, with several new players joining and others departing. Key figures like Ayoub El Kaabi, who was instrumental in their recent successes, will be looking to continue their scoring form.
Recent Form (Last 5 Friendlies/Competitive Matches):
Norwich City 0 - 3 Olympiacos (Friendly)
NAC Breda 2 - 3 Olympiacos (Friendly)
OFI Crete 0 - 2 Olympiacos (Greek Cup)
Panathinaikos 0 - 1 Olympiacos (Greek Super League)
Olympiacos 4 - 2 PAOK Saloniki (Greek Super League)
Match Prediction
This friendly promises to be an interesting contest. Olympiacos appears to be in slightly better form and has a strong head-to-head record against AZ Alkmaar. However, playing at home, AZ Alkmaar will be eager to put on a good show for their fans and iron out any remaining pre-season kinks.
Expect a competitive match with both teams looking to play their attacking football. Given Olympiacos' recent results and their solid defensive displays, they might just have the edge in this encounter.
Predicted Score: AZ Alkmaar 1 - 2 Olympiacos
