The Eredivisie title race is getting so tough to predict. I still back Feyenoord to ultimately lift the ‘schaal’ in May, but I have liked watching AZ, too. We’re at the stage of the season where Alkmaar simply need to string results together to stay in contention for a top two finish, especially with Ajax back amongst the goals.

AZ simply didn’t get going in an attacking sense against Volendam last weekend, which meant two precious dropped points. It almost didn’t matter that four senior centre backs were out injured because AZ didn’t have much defending to do. That said, Wout Goes did have a solid debut.

In midweek, Pascal Jansen’s side were knocked out of the Dutch Cup — with a full strength squad — to Utrecht, who are a tricky opponent, but it felt like one game too many for AZ who are playing twice a week with almost the same eleven put out each time (and only two or three players who get good minutes from the bench).

We are in danger of seeing AZ’s brilliant season crash. However, opponents Excelsior are on a run of one win in six, but I have seen enough from them recently to back them to now stay up in the Eredivisie (despite my initial scepticism at the start of the season). They are quite a tight-knit side nowadays. Five of the last seven of Excelsior’s games had two goals or less.

I think Excelsior will set up defensively to try and frustrate their hosts. AZ may get a goal towards the end, but I don’t see the home side running away with it.