AZ Alkmaar vs Anderlecht - Friendlies Clubs

Tactical intrigue takes centre stage on July 15, 2026 as AZ Alkmaar and Anderlecht prepare to square off at the home ground, with both managers known for their strategic nuance in the Friendlies Clubs. The sheer joy on the 18-year-old defender’s face resonated with Paul Schaffran back at the academy.

Both camps will view the Friendlies Clubs meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. AZ Alkmaar will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. Paulo Fonseca's men are still smarting from their Champions League play-off exit but now sit third in the table.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. AZ Alkmaar will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Anderlecht must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. City also want to continue improving their attack, with a top left-winger still in the offing too.

Star players on both sides will be eager to make their mark, and the individual duels across the pitch could go a long way to deciding the outcome. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Michael Carrick wants a younger defender who can eventually succeed Luke Shaw, whose fitness record makes it difficult to rely on him throughout a demanding campaign.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With positions in the Friendlies Clubs table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.