Heerenveen played to a 2-2 draw with AZ in a thrilling Eredivisie match on Sunday. The result secures a point for the Frisian side against the league's strong second-placed team.
Manager Kees van Wonderen's squad currently sits eleventh in the Eredivisie with 5 points from four matches. Their season start of 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss (DLDW) has been inconsistent. They have scored 5 goals and conceded 6, resulting in a negative goal difference of -1. In the title race, they trail leaders AZ Alkmaar by 7 points.
The game was a real battle. Heerenveen started strongly and took an early lead. AZ, who were unbeaten in the league this season, fought back. The Alkmaar side showed their quality and applied sustained pressure on Heerenveen's defense. The home team managed to withstand the pressure and secure the draw. The match was a good reflection of both teams' current form.
Heerenveen's season start has been a mix of highs and lows. They began with a 2-2 draw against Willem II. This was followed by a disappointing 0-2 loss to PEC Zwolle. A highlight was the 2-2 draw against giants Ajax, followed by an important 1-0 victory over Twente. In pre-season, they also won 3-2 against Volos NFC. This inconsistency is reflected in their standings position and goal difference.
Recent history between Heerenveen and AZ favors the Alkmaar side. On April 12, 2026, AZ beat Heerenveen 3-0. On May 22, 2025, the score was 4-1 for AZ. Heerenveen did record a notable 3-1 victory on November 23, 2025. This shows the Frisians are capable of beating AZ, but consistency has been an issue.
For clubs like Heerenveen, the Eredivisie is about European qualification and avoiding relegation. First and second place qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Third place goes to the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. Positions four through seven enter the play-offs for the UEFA Conference League. Heerenveen, currently eleventh, must be careful not to slip into the relegation zone. Sixteenth place enters a relegation play-off, while seventeenth and eighteenth are relegated directly.
Heerenveen's next assignment is a home match against Telstar on September 13, 2026. Telstar currently sits fourteenth in the table. It's an opportunity for Heerenveen to improve their position and show more consistency. Fans can follow the preparations and squad news on our squad page. The coming weeks are important for setting the direction of this season.
