Match Report
AZ went into the game 7th in the table on 52 points; Sparta Rotterdam sat 10th on 43 — a 9-point gap. Sparta Rotterdam had been under-performing their position — 17th on five-round form against 10th in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: AZ 1.71 scored and 1.5 conceded per game, Sparta Rotterdam 1.18 and 1.82, with the league averaging 1.59.
Sparta Rotterdam were unbeaten in 5, having scored in 9 consecutive games.
19 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — AZ 11, draws 5, Sparta Rotterdam 3, at 2.84 goals per meeting. Whoever hosts gains little here: home teams have taken just 37% of the wins in this fixture.
The match was played at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar (capacity 19,500). It was 0-0 at the break, and the second half added 4 goals for the 3-1 full-time score.
Goal scorers
AZ: Kees Smit (83'), Sven Mijnans (65'), Troy Parrott (90') · Sparta Rotterdam: Milan Zonneveld (87')
Key stats
Possession: AZ 46% · Sparta Rotterdam 54% · Total shots: 11-12 · On target: 5-4 · Corners: 2-7