Fortuna Sittard 0-2 AZ Alkmaar result, stats and report

AZ Alkmaar controlled every aspect of this Eredivisie fixture at Fortuna Sittard, winning 2-0 through a second-half brace, but the performance told a story that went far deeper than the scoreline suggests.

Sunderland host AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday night, and the market says the Black Cats are clear favourites. The question is whether they have the standards to prove it.

AZ Alkmaar sit top of the Eredivisie with a perfect record and an xG that suggests they are doing far more than just winning. The question on Sunday is whether a crowded treatment room disrupts a structure that has been working very well.

Two of the Eredivisie's most defensively troubled sides meet at Tilburg on Saturday evening, with Willem II yet to take a point from their opening two matches and Fortuna Sittard shipping goals at an alarming rate on the road.

Ajax travel to Fortuna Sittard on Saturday evening carrying genuine momentum and a defensive record that should concern any Eredivisie host. Fortuna's numbers tell a worrying story before a ball has been kicked.

AZ Alkmaar head into Friday's Eredivisie fixture at the AFAS Stadion as the division's standout side, sitting top of the table with three wins from three. Willem II arrive with no points, no clean sheets, and a defensive structure that is already showing serious signs of strain.

ADO Den Haag are desperate for their first points of the Eredivisie season after two heavy defeats, while Fortuna Sittard arrive with underlying numbers that suggest their four-point start flatters them considerably. This one has more to it than the standings suggest.

AZ Alkmaar arrive in Friesland with a flawless two-game record and an xG profile that suggests they are the real deal, but Heerenveen have not lost at home all season and carry injury concerns that complicate the picture significantly.