Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
AZ Alkmaar 4-0 Genk: Weslley Patati scored twice as Leeroy Echteld's side cruised to a convincing pre-season friendly win at Sportpark VV Dirkshorn, with Troy Parrott and Bendegúz Kovács also on target.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
AZ lined up with Jordi Clasie and Kees Smit in midfield under head coach Leeroy Echteld, who had expressed dissatisfaction with performances against Anderlecht and Zulte Waregem in previous friendlies. The response was immediate.
Genk had the first clear chance. Daan Heymans stepped up to take a 14th-minute penalty but sliced his effort wide of the goal. From the resulting goal kick, AZ swept forward in a rapid transition and Patati slotted calmly into the far corner to open the scoring in the 16th minute.
Patati doubled AZ's lead before the end of the first quarter. He danced past his marker and finished emphatically to make it 2-0 in the 29th minute, leaving the Belgian side chasing the game.
AZ continued to dominate the second quarter. Patati turned provider, teeing up Mexx Meerdink whose backheeled effort was well saved by Genk goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans.
Genk's best opportunity after the interval fell to Aaron Bibout, but he opted for a careless pass when well placed, and the chance evaporated. AZ punished Genk's defensive sloppiness soon after: Parrott intercepted a loose ball in the Genk box and made it 3-0 in the 80th minute.
Hungarian midfielder Bendegúz Kovács completed the scoring in the seventh minute of added time, slotting home to make it 4-0.
The Turning Point
Heymans' missed penalty in the 14th minute was the decisive moment. Genk could have taken the lead against the run of play, but the miss allowed AZ to counter immediately through Patati. From that point, the match was entirely in AZ's control.
Key Performers
Weslley Patati (AZ Alkmaar) — The Brazilian was the match-winner. Two clinical finishes inside 29 minutes, constant movement that troubled the Genk defence, and an assist for Meerdink's chance. Unplayable in the first half.
Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar) — The Irish striker was alert to capitalise on Genk's defensive error, scoring AZ's third. His hold-up play and movement kept the Genk backline stretched throughout.
Jordi Clasie (AZ Alkmaar) — The veteran midfielder anchored the midfield, providing the platform for AZ's attacking transitions with intelligent positioning and distribution.
Player of the Match: Weslley Patati (AZ Alkmaar)
By the Numbers
AZ's 4-0 win reflects a performance that was far more one-sided than the provider's 0-0 scoreline suggests — the match was restructured into four 30-minute periods, and the goal count accumulated over the full 120 minutes. AZ's pressing and quick transitions after Genk's early penalty miss dictated the tempo. Genk managed only sporadic chances: Heymans' missed penalty, a Bibout opportunity wasted by a poor pass, and little else of note. AZ's defensive unit, anchored by Wouter Goes and Sven Koopmeiners, were rarely troubled.
What It Means
For AZ, this was a significant step forward under Echteld after two unconvincing performances against Anderlecht (3-3) and Zulte Waregem (1-1). The Alkmaarders face Olympiacos at the AFAS Stadion on 25 July in their final pre-season friendly before the Johan Cruijff Schaal against PSV on 2 August. Genk, who had won three of their previous five pre-season matches, continue their preparations for the Belgian Pro League season.
Verdict
A comprehensive pre-season workout that answered some questions for Echteld. Patati's form is a major positive, and the team's sharpness in transition suggests the timing of their preparation is on track for the season opener against PSV. Genk will want to forget the evening quickly and focus on tightening their defensive organisation before competitive fixtures resume.
Rivalry since 2020
AZ Alkmaar vs Genk Head to Head Results· 2
AZ Alkmaar and Genk have met 2 times — AZ Alkmaar won 0, Genk won 1, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. Genk leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 2 meetings. A combined 3 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 1.50 per match (1 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (50%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 1–1 in 2021.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 22 Jul 2026