Jong AZ vs Almere City: Match Preview, Predictions and Betting Tips
Published on Wednesday, 04 November 2026 by Steve
Jong AZ vs Almere City
Netherlands Eerste Divisie Prediction & Betting Tips
Match Overview
EMMANUEL POKU | ALMERE CITY | Goals, Assists & Skills - 2025-2026ᴴᴰ
Friday night football in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie brings a fascinating Round 14 clash to the AFAS Trainingscomplex, where eighth-placed Jong AZ host promotion-chasing Almere City. The young Alkmaar side have been one of the most entertaining watches in the Dutch second tier this season, scoring freely but conceding just as readily, while Anoush Dastgir's Almere City arrive in Alkmaar sitting fourth with genuine ambitions of an immediate return to the Eredivisie. If you enjoy goal-heavy encounters, this fixture has a proud tradition of delivering them — all 14 previous meetings between these sides have produced a winner, with an average of more than four goals per game across recent seasons. Our model and market analysis, available daily on our today's football predictions page, points firmly toward another entertaining, high-scoring contest in North Holland.
Jong AZ head into the weekend on the back of one of the most chaotic results of the Eerste Divisie season so far, a staggering 5-4 home victory over Helmond Sport that followed a 4-4 thriller with VVV-Venlo and a 4-1 dismantling of FC Volendam. Frank Peereboom's youngsters have found the net 31 times in 12 league matches — a strike rate bettered by only a handful of clubs — but they have kept precisely zero clean sheets and are conceding more than two goals per game. For readers who follow our over/under predictions, the pattern is unmistakable: Jong AZ matches have cleared the 2.5-goal line in three quarters of their fixtures this season, and both teams have scored in the majority of their home games. If you're hunting goals in the Dutch second division, check the fixtures for tomorrow's football predictions too, because Friday evenings in the Eerste Divisie rarely disappoint.
Almere City, meanwhile, have been the model of a serious promotion contender. The Flevoland club lost just one of their opening twelve league games, boast one of the tightest defensive records in the division with only around a goal conceded per match, and are powered by captain Ferdy Druijf, who already has eight league goals to his name this term. Their only blemishes came in away defeats at Dordrecht and Emmen, results that served as a reminder that this league punishes any drop in intensity. Dastgir — the Dutch-Afghan coach who took over in the summer of 2026 after guiding the Netherlands U18s and previously leading the Afghanistan national team — has instilled a disciplined, structured 4-2-3-1 built on a double pivot and rapid transitions into wide areas. The market reflects the gap between the sides: European odds price Almere City as favourites at around 2.15, with the draw at 4.15 and Jong AZ out at 2.78. Our full betting breakdown, including the reasoning behind our 1-3 correct score call, is covered in detail in the sections below, and you can compare it with our daily selections on the banker of the day page.
Tactical Preview
Bendegúz Kovács | Jong AZ Alkmaar - Goals, Dribbling and Best Skills
Formation & Key Matchups
Jong AZ 4-3-3
Frank Peereboom has stayed loyal to the AZ Alkmaar house style, and the 4-3-3 remains the platform for everything Jong AZ attempt. The build-up is brave — sometimes recklessly so — with young centre-backs encouraged to play through pressure and Julian Oerip dropping between the lines from midfield to create overloads. Oerip has been the standout performer in the division's youth ranks with a league rating near 7.7 and four assists already, while Jesper Zwart's distribution from right-back or midfield has produced four more. The front three, usually featuring Jasper Hartog, Bendegúz Kovács and Jerolldino Bergraaf — all of whom have four league goals — rotate positions aggressively, with the Hungarian Kovács often drifting inside from the left. The 4-3-3 philosophy is analysed in depth in our tactical guide to the strongest football formations, and Jong AZ's youthful execution of it is a textbook case of high risk, high reward. Their pressing is energetic but structurally naive: when the first wave is beaten, the back line is left exposed in vast amounts of space.
Almere City 4-2-3-1
Anoush Dastgir has built Almere City into a compact, transition-oriented unit. The double pivot of Enzo Cornelisse and Milan de Haan shields a back four marshalled by James Lawrence and Teun Bijleveld, with Wessel Speel — on loan from Minnesota United — an assured presence in goal. Ahead of them, Jamie Jacobs pulls the strings as the number ten, feeding a pacy attacking trident in which Emmanuel Poku and Byron Burgering stretch play wide, creating the room for captain Ferdy Druijf to operate between the lines. Druijf is the division's most complete striker right now: eight goals and three assists this season, and a proven scorer at this level from his time with Almere's promotion sides. The key tactical battle will be Dastgir's structured pressing against Peereboom's ball-playing youngsters. Our piece on controlling a match through tactics describes exactly the kind of game management Almere will attempt: quiet spells, territorial control, and then devastating counters once Jong AZ commit numbers forward.
Critical Vulnerability
The decisive area of the pitch is the space in behind Jong AZ's high defensive line. Peereboom's side defends with a high block and full-backs who advance well into the opposition half, which leaves channels that clever movement can exploit ruthlessly. Almere scored nine goals from counter-attacking situations and wide transitions last season and have continued in the same vein; Druijf and Poku are precisely the profiles to punish a young back four. Compounding the issue, Jong AZ have kept zero clean sheets all season and their centre-back pairings rotate weekly due to call-ups and developmental minutes. The one caveat for Almere is the absence of Mees Hoedemakers through injury, which slightly reduces their control in the pivot — a detail worth remembering when weighing up the draw no bet market, though we still expect their quality in the final third to tell over 90 minutes. Jong AZ will create chances of their own, but the expectation is that they will need to score two or three times simply to keep pace.
Team News & Squad Status
Jong AZ 🟢🔴🟡🔴🟢
- No confirmed absentees — Jong AZ report a fully available squad for the visit of Almere City.
- Frank Peereboom must decide whether to rotate his goalkeepers, with Daniël Deen, Ismail Ka and Kiyani Zeggen all competing for minutes this season.
- Julian Oerip (four assists, team-high rating) is expected to anchor the midfield after his influential recent displays.
- Top scorers Jasper Hartog, Bendegúz Kovács and Jerolldino Bergraaf — four goals each — are all pushing to start in a fluid front three.
- Watch for Swedish forward Maximilian Ibrahimović, a second-half impact option with a knack for arriving late in the box.
Almere City 🟢🟢🔴🔴🟢
- Mees Hoedemakers is ruled out through injury — the on-loan midfielder is Almere's only confirmed absentee.
- Wessel Speel is set to continue in goal after an ever-present start to his loan spell from Minnesota United.
- Captain and top scorer Ferdy Druijf leads the line after reaching eight league goals for the campaign.
- Emmanuel Poku (four goals, three assists) and Jamie Jacobs provide the creative support behind the captain.
- Defensive unit built around James Lawrence, Teun Bijleveld and Joey Jacobs, with Martin Wasinski (on loan from Schalke 04) another option at full-back.
Predicted Lineups
Julian oerip hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy
| Jong AZ 4-3-3 | Almere City 4-2-3-1 |
|---|---|
| Daniël Deen (GK) | Wessel Speel (GK) |
| Jesper Zwart (RB) | Joey Jacobs (RB) |
| Mathijs Menu (CB) | James Lawrence (CB) |
| Frej Elkjær Andersen (CB) | Teun Bijleveld (CB) |
| Jeremiah Esajas (LB) | Martin Wasinski (LB) |
| Julian Oerip (CM) | Enzo Cornelisse (DM) |
| Hessel de Wit (CM) | Milan de Haan (DM) |
| Bogdan Budko (CM) | Emmanuel Poku (RAM) |
| Bendegúz Kovács (RW) | Jamie Jacobs (AM) |
| Jerolldino Bergraaf (ST) | Byron Burgering (LAM) |
| Jasper Hartog (LW) | Ferdy Druijf (ST, c) |
Head-to-Head Record
Almere City zegt contract Ferdy Druijf en zeven andere spelers formeel op - Sport - Omroep Flevoland
There is something remarkable about this fixture: in the entire history of meetings between Jong AZ and Almere City, not a single match has ended in a draw. Fourteen encounters in the Eerste Divisie have produced six wins for the young Alkmaar side and eight for Almere, and the recent chapters have been pure box-office. The most recent meeting, back in January 2026, finished 4-3 to Almere City in a seven-goal thriller, and the game before that, in October 2025, saw Jong AZ win 3-1 in Almere. Every one of the last 14 meetings has seen at least two goals scored, 12 of them have gone over 2.5, and both teams have scored in 11. For those who track both teams to score (GG/NG) trends, this is one of the most reliable "yes" fixtures in the entire division, and our football form guide methodology treats historical scoring patterns like this as a meaningful input rather than a coincidence.
Almere have won the last two competitive meetings between the clubs, including that 4-3 classic in January, and their greater physical maturity against academy opposition has historically been the deciding factor. Jong AZ's wins in this fixture have tended to come in front of their own supporters, where their pressing and intensity unsettle more established sides — indeed, they beat Almere 3-1 on their last visit to Alkmaar territory in October 2025. However, the 2026/27 version of Almere is a different beast: more organised, more experienced in key positions, and managed by a coach in Anoush Dastgir who knows exactly how youth teams behave in big moments. The head-to-head data screams goals, and the current form of both sides reinforces that. There is little in the record to suggest a tight, tactical stalemate; expect chances at both ends and a decisive swing in the final half hour, which is when most of this season's goals in Jong AZ matches have arrived.
Key Players Comparison
The individual matchups across the pitch are intriguing, but the decisive duel is Druijf versus the Jong AZ centre-backs. The 27-year-old captain has scored at every level of Dutch football and has made a career of bullying young defenders — exactly the profile Peereboom's back line, with an average age under 21, must contain for 90 minutes. On the other flank, the battle between Poku's direct running and Esajas's recovery pace will likely produce at least one major chance per half. For Jong AZ, everything flows through Oerip; Almere's staff will have noted that in matches where Oerip is pressed aggressively, Jong AZ's shot volume drops sharply. The Hungarian Kovács, meanwhile, is the home side's best bet to punish Almere's one weakness — the space vacated by their advancing full-backs. When comparing star men for your own wagers, our guide on comparing odds across markets explains why anytime-goalscorer prices on forwards like Druijf often carry better long-term value than the raw match result.
The Managers
Frank Peereboom (Jong AZ)
Peereboom is the embodiment of the AZ development philosophy: possession-heavy, positionally fluid, and unafraid to blood teenagers against seasoned professionals. His task is fundamentally different from every other manager in the division — results matter, but minutes, development and tactical education matter more, which explains the weekly rotation and the wild swings between a 5-4 win over Helmond Sport and a 4-4 draw with VVV-Venlo. His 4-3-3 produces chance after chance, but his teams' defensive structure often looks like an afterthought, and he has never built a reputation for game management once his side falls behind.
Against Almere, Peereboom's dilemma is tactical courage versus pragmatism. If he presses high, his youngsters can dominate the ball as they did against Volendam, but they risk being shredded on the counter. If he sits deeper, he negates his side's primary strength. Expect the former — it is simply who Jong AZ are under his guidance, and it is why their matches are so popular with neutrals and over-goals bettors alike.
Anoush Dastgir (Almere City)
Dastgir's appointment in the summer of 2026 was one of the most interesting coaching stories in the Eerste Divisie. The 36-year-old Dutch-Afghan — a former head coach of the Afghanistan national team and, most recently, of the Netherlands U18 side — returned to a club where he had already served as U21 coach and first-team assistant. He knows Almere's culture intimately, and his two-year contract reflects the club's belief that he is the man to lead them back to the Eredivisie. His side concede barely a goal per game, press in coordinated waves, and display a tactical maturity rare at this level.
The contrast with Peereboom could hardly be starker: Dastgir coaches a senior, promotion-focused team where every point has commodity value. His Netherlands U18 background also gives him a unique insight into the psychology of the players he will face — he has coached and evaluated talents of exactly Jong AZ's age profile, and knows precisely how to disrupt their rhythm. His game plan for Alkmaar will be patient and ruthless in equal measure: let the youngsters have sterile possession, then strike the space they leave behind. For a deeper look at how managers shape betting outcomes, see our article on football betting mistakes to avoid, where ignoring the tactical identity of the dugout ranks high on the list.
Betting Predictions & Tips
Odds: 2.15 (European decimal)
The value lies with the visitors. Almere have lost just once in twelve league games, sit fourth with one of the division's best defensive records, and hold a clear tactical edge through Druijf against the youngest defence they will face all season. Jong AZ's home games are entertaining but chaotic — they have won only half of their matches at the AFAS Trainingscomplex and have yet to keep a single clean sheet anywhere. The last two meetings both went Almere's way, and their counter-attacking style is the perfect antidote to Peereboom's high line. At 2.15 we make this a genuine value price, and it anchors our full-time prediction for the match. Stake accordingly as the cornerstone of any Friday accumulator.
Odds: 1.62 (European decimal)
Some prices are generous because bookmakers underestimate narrative, and this is one of them. All 14 previous meetings between these clubs produced at least two goals; 12 of the 14 went over 2.5. This season Jong AZ's matches average more than five total goals, with 75% clearing the 2.5 line, while Almere's attacking output (over 2.4 scored per away game) meets the most porous defensive structure in the top half of the table. Our dedicated over/under tips page flags this exact profile of fixture every week. At 1.62 the price is fair rather than spectacular, but as a value play within a multiple it significantly outperforms the coin-flip the raw percentage might suggest. For more context on how totals markets work, our over/under betting guide is a useful primer.
Odds: 1.55 (European decimal)
The historical hit rate here is extraordinary — both teams have scored in 11 of the 14 lifetime meetings, and neither side's current profile suggests a departure from that script. Jong AZ have scored in nearly every home game this season, yet have kept zero clean sheets; Almere have failed to score in only one of their 13 league matches. With Jong AZ's attack firing at 2.6 goals per game and Druijf leading a relentless away strike force, "no" on the BTTS market requires you to believe in a clean sheet that has never once materialised for the home side all season. Check our GG/NG predictions hub for how this market performs across similar Eerste Divisie fixtures, and combine it with the away win for a boosted-price double at around 3.40 on the double chance and combo markets.
Odds: 1.85 (European decimal)
Eight league goals, a penalty-box predator's instinct, and an opposition defence conceding more than two goals per game with an average age under 21 — the case writes itself. Druijf has scored in the majority of Almere's fixtures this season and is the designated penalty taker, adding a route to value that doesn't depend on open play. When a striker of his calibre faces a youth defence, anytime-odds below 2.00 are historically profitable territory. If you prefer to de-risk, the "Druijf 2+ goals" option at approximately 6.50 is a tempting long shot given Jong AZ's habit of conceding in clusters after the 60-minute mark, where they have leaked a disproportionate share of their goals this campaign.
Odds: 21.00 (European decimal)
Our headline prediction. The logic chain: Jong AZ score at home (they almost always do — one home blank all season), but Almere's superior structure, firepower and head-to-head dominance carry them to a comfortable-looking three-goal away performance. A 1-3 scoreline covers the "Jong AZ competitive but outclassed" scenario perfectly, and it is a score Almere have produced before on the road this season, including at RKC Waalwijk. Correct-score betting is the definition of speculative — see our correct score tips for staking guidance — so keep stakes small, treat it as a lottery-style add-on to the main picks, and never chase losses in this market. If 21.00 feels too precise, "Almere win and over 3.5 goals" at around 4.75 captures the same thesis with more breathing room, and our European handicap guide shows how the -1 handicap at roughly 3.60 expresses it too.
📊 Final Score Prediction
Match Analysis
We expect Jong AZ to start fast. Energised by their home crowd and faithful to Peereboom's philosophy, the youngsters will press Almere's back line, enjoy spells of possession, and are more than capable of finding the opening goal or an equaliser — their 31 goals this season are no accident, and Kovács, Hartog and Bergraaf will test Speel between the posts. The opening half hour could be genuinely even, and do not be surprised if the score is level at the break, as it has been in a number of Almere's away fixtures this season.
The second half, however, is where we project Almere to take over. Dastgir's side are one of the division's strongest finishing teams, scoring the bulk of their goals after half-time, while Jong AZ concede heavily in the final 30 minutes — a trait that has cost them repeatedly this campaign. Once legs tire and spaces open, Druijf's movement, Poku's pace and Jamie Jacobs's late runs between the lines become almost impossible for a rotating youth defence to track. Our projection is Almere edging ahead around the hour mark and adding two more in the closing stages as Jong AZ push forward chasing the game. A 1-3 final score combines the most reliable trends of this fixture — goals at both ends, Almere's superiority, and a decisive away margin — and mirrors both the January 2024? no, January 2026 seven-goal classic and Almere's comfortable away wins this season. For alternative scoreline coverage, our correct score page tracks similar high-scoring profiles across Europe's second tiers.
Key Insights & Statistics
- Zero draws: none of the 14 previous meetings between Jong AZ and Almere City has finished level — one of the most remarkable streaks in the Eerste Divisie.
- Jong AZ have kept 0 clean sheets in 12 league matches this season, conceding 2.2 goals per game on average.
- Almere City have lost only once in their first twelve league fixtures (7 wins, 4 draws-level consistency) and boast a +13 goal difference.
- Ferdy Druijf has scored 8 league goals — among the top scorers in the division — and adds 3 assists for the league's fourth-placed side.
- Jong AZ's last five results: 1-1 vs Jong PSV, 4-1 vs Volendam (W), 0-1 vs Den Bosch (L), 4-4 vs VVV-Venlo, 5-4 vs Helmond Sport (W) — 18 goals across five games.
- Both teams have scored in 11 of the 14 all-time meetings; 12 of 14 matches produced over 2.5 goals.
- Almere's only confirmed absentee is midfielder Mees Hoedemakers (injury); Jong AZ report no unavailable players.
- European 1X2 odds: Jong AZ 2.78, Draw 4.15, Almere City 2.15 — the market makes Almere clear favourites.
- Jong AZ score the majority of their goals between the 60th and 90th minutes, but also concede a league-high share of late goals — a volatile late-game profile.
- Anoush Dastgir (36) is in his first season as Almere head coach after coaching the Netherlands U18s and the Afghanistan national team; Frank Peereboom continues AZ's famed development-first approach.
Conclusion
Jong AZ vs Almere City is the Eerste Divisie's Friday-night gift to goals-loving football fans: a fearless, high-scoring academy side against a streetwise, promotion-hungry club led by one of the most intriguing young coaches in the Netherlands. Every historical indicator — 14 meetings, zero draws, an avalanche of goals — plus both teams' current-season profiles points toward another open, entertaining contest at the AFAS Trainingscomplex on 6 November 2026. The honest case for Jong AZ rests on their attacking chemistry and home energy; the honest case against them rests on a defence that has yet to keep a clean sheet against far weaker attacks than this one.
Our prediction is an Almere City victory by three goals to one. The visitors have the division's most reliable striker in Ferdy Druijf, the tactical discipline to exploit Jong AZ's naive high line, and a head-to-head record that suggests they simply know how to beat this opposition. The betting strategy follows the same logic: Almere to win at 2.15 as the best pick, over 2.5 goals and both teams to score as the value spine, Druijf anytime at 1.85, and a speculative 1-3 correct score at 21.00 for those chasing a bigger return. Before placing anything, cross-reference the final team sheets and check our sure win predictions and the daily shortlist on the bet of the day page for the freshest prices.
Whatever happens, expect drama, expect goals, and expect the deadlock-free streak in this fixture to stretch to fifteen matches. Kick-off is at 19:00 UTC (20:00 CET) on Friday, 6 November 2026 — enjoy the game, and as always, bet within your means and gamble responsibly.
