Can AZ protect first place at De Kuip? Feyenoord vs AZ prediction — 10.10.2026
One of the biggest matches of the Eredivisie weekend will take place on Saturday, October 10, when Feyenoord host AZ at De Kuip. After seven rounds, AZ lead the standings with 19 points, while Feyenoord are only two points behind. Both teams remain unbeaten in the domestic league, turning this meeting into an early direct battle for first place.
Feyenoord: 12 goals in two league matches before the break
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s return to Rotterdam has quickly produced results. Feyenoord have collected five wins and two draws in seven Eredivisie matches, scoring 25 goals and conceding only seven. No team in the league has scored more.
Their last two domestic performances were especially impressive. Feyenoord demolished PEC Zwolle 7-0 away before returning to De Kuip and beating Utrecht 5-0. Against Utrecht, Anis Hadj Moussa scored twice, while Nacho Ferri, Luciano Valente and Gaoussou Diarra also found the net.
Van Bronckhorst has recently settled on an aggressive 4-3-3, with Hadj Moussa providing width on the right and Ferri operating through the middle. Valente can play either in midfield or higher on the left, giving Feyenoord plenty of flexibility during matches. Reiss Nelson also made his return as a substitute against Utrecht, adding another attacking option.
There are still some personnel questions. In Feyenoord’s most recent league squad update, Bart Nieuwkoop, Gijs Smal, Jakub Moder and Thomas Beelen were among the players unavailable, while Gonçalo Borges was dealing with a minor problem. No match-specific medical bulletin for the AZ game has yet been published, so the projected lineup is based on the latest confirmed team information.
AZ: the league leaders have built their start on consistency
AZ arrive in Rotterdam in an even stronger league position. Leeroy Echteld’s side have taken 19 points from a possible 21, winning six matches and drawing one, with a goal difference of 18-6.
The Alkmaar club have shown they can win in different ways. They beat Go Ahead Eagles 5-2 in an open contest and came from behind to defeat Heerenveen 3-2, but their most recent league game was very different: a controlled 1-0 victory against Telstar, with Mexx Meerdink scoring the only goal.
Meerdink remains the main reference point in attack, while Ro-Zangelo Daal gives AZ pace from the flank. Calvin Stengs adds creativity between the lines, and Peer Koopmeiners and Dave Kwakman provide balance in midfield. Echteld can also call upon experienced options such as Jordy Clasie and Wesley Hoedt.
AZ’s most recently confirmed injury list included Denso Kasius and Stije Resink. As with Feyenoord, the final squad for October 10 has not yet been announced, so late medical developments could still affect the starting eleven.
Probable lineups
- Feyenoord: Ernst — Read, St. Juste, Watanabe, Mármol — Zechiël, Vanhoutte, Targhalline — Hadj Moussa, Ferri, Valente.
- AZ: De Busser — Dijkstra, Goes, Schouten, Chávez — Kwakman, Koopmeiners — Stengs, Byskov, Daal — Meerdink.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- AZ are first in the Eredivisie with 19 points; Feyenoord are second with 17.
- Feyenoord have scored 25 goals in seven league matches, compared with AZ’s 18.
- Both teams are still unbeaten in the Eredivisie this season.
- Feyenoord have scored 12 goals across their last two league games.
- AZ have conceded only six league goals in seven rounds.
- Feyenoord are unbeaten in their last five meetings with AZ, recording three wins and two draws.
- Their most recent meeting at De Kuip finished 1-1 in May 2026.
De Kuip and Feyenoord’s attacking momentum could make the difference
AZ deserve their position at the top. Echteld’s team are disciplined, dangerous in transition and have already demonstrated that they can manage both open matches and tight contests. With Meerdink, Daal and Stengs, the visitors have enough attacking quality to punish Feyenoord if the hosts leave too much space.
However, Feyenoord’s recent domestic performances have been difficult to ignore. Twelve goals in two league matches underline how quickly Van Bronckhorst’s attack is moving the ball and how many different players are contributing in the final third. Home advantage is also significant in a direct meeting between two sides that are separated by very little on paper.
AZ should make this much tougher than Utrecht or Zwolle did, but Feyenoord have the stronger recent attacking rhythm and a favorable head-to-head record. In a match that could remain balanced for long periods, the hosts look capable of finding the decisive moment.
Prediction: Feyenoord to win.
