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Wim Kieft said that Mexx Meerdink was contributing too little to AZ and needed to take more responsibility. His comments followed AZ's defeat by Ajax in the North Holland derby. Kieft said it was too early to conclude that AZ had returned to its old pattern based on that result alone.
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Feyenoord beat AZ 2-0 at De Kuip to move above the Alkmaar side into first place in the Eredivisie, with a one-point lead over AZ and PSV. Nacho Ferri opened the scoring in the 13th minute after a mistake by Wouter Goes, and Javi López scored from a corner in the 59th minute. AZ suffered its first league defeat of the season. AZ were awarded a penalty shortly before half-time after Mexx Meerdink went down following an incident with goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, but referee Danny Makkelie overturned the decision after a VAR review. Meerdink disputed the reversal, while AZ coach Leeroy Echteld declined to dwell on it after the match. Feyenoord coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst said the win over a direct rival mattered more than taking first place.
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SC Cambuur drew 2-2 with AZ in Leeuwarden. Nicolas Binder gave Cambuur an early lead, before Ro-Zangelo Daal equalised for AZ. Ilyes Hamache restored Cambuur’s advantage before half-time. Cambuur played the final 35 minutes with 10 men after Devid Eugene Bouah received a second yellow card. AZ levelled late through a Mexx Meerdink penalty awarded after VAR intervention. AZ remains second after nine matches with 20 points, while Cambuur has nine points from nine games.
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A series of episodes of the football podcast Kick-off examined the Dutch national team, the Netherlands Under-21 side and leading Eredivisie clubs. Valentijn Driessen, Mike Verweij, Jeroen Kapteijns, Marcel van der Kraan, Steven Kooijman and Pim Sedee discussed coach Xavi’s tactics, the workload and injuries affecting internationals, and possible roles for players including Jorrel Hato and Mexx Meerdink. They also addressed Feyenoord’s European and domestic form, PSV’s Champions League prospects, and Ajax’s results, coaching situation and squad planning. The discussions included criticism of refereeing and VAR decisions, debate over youth development and rules in football, and assessments of figures such as Clarence Seedorf, Wout Weghorst and Manchester United’s leadership. The latest episode focused on Ajax under Míchel Sánchez and which eleven players should form the team, with particular attention to striker Tolu and the reported need to secure Abdellah Ouazane’s future. No final team selection was established.
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Wesley Hoedt made his first appearance for AZ in 11 years and his first match in almost six months when he started and completed AZ’s Europa League match against Hapoel Be’er Sheva. He had waited to return because he was not yet fully fit, he said. AZ won 2-1 after Mexx Meerdink converted a second-half penalty. Hoedt said he and goalkeeper Jari De Busser were at fault in the move that led to Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s equaliser. The win left AZ with three points in the Europa League league phase.