AZ Alkmaar vs Olympiakos Piraeus

AZ’s tactical adjustment at the break transformed the contest. After managing little in the first half, they pressed higher and moved the ball faster after the interval. Meerdink’s movement became the focal point, and his two goals in 17 second-half minutes flipped the match entirely.

• Mexx Meerdink (AZ Alkmaar) — Player of the match. Two goals in the second half (72', 89'), providing the cutting edge AZ lacked in the opening period.
• Weslley Patati (AZ Alkmaar) — The Brazilian winger scored the equaliser in the 77th minute and was a persistent threat down the flank after the break.
• Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos Piraeus) — Opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 24th minute and led the line effectively before being substituted at half-time (46').
• David Carmo (Olympiakos Piraeus) — Dominant in the air, scoring a header from a corner to make it 2-0, but part of a defence that conceded three goals in 17 second-half minutes.

Olympiakos’s 2-0 half-time lead reflected clear first-half superiority: El Kaabi’s early strike and Carmo’s set-piece goal gave them full control. AZ’s statistical response was emphatic — three goals in 17 second-half minutes (72', 77', 89'). The split was effectively two different matches: Olympiakos owned the first 45, AZ owned the second. Both sides used substitutions heavily, with AZ making four and Olympiakos five, typical of a pre-season friendly focused on fitness.

For AZ Alkmaar, this represents a statement win in their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026-27 Eredivisie campaign. The result is AZ’s first victory over Olympiakos in three meetings across all competitions — the Greek side had won the previous two encounters, including a 2-0 win in the same fixture last July.

Olympiakos will be concerned by their second-half collapse after such a dominant first-half display. The Greek side also lost their previous friendly 3-0 to Royal Antwerp on 25 July, per the Olympiacos official site.

AZ continue their pre-season schedule. Olympiakos will look to regroup before the start of the Greek Super League season.

A match of two sharply contrasting halves. Olympiakos looked sharp and composed for 45 minutes; AZ were transformed after the break. Meerdink’s double was the difference — a reminder that in pre-season, tactical adjustments and second-half intensity can overturn even a two-goal lead.