ALKMAAR, Netherlands (Interstat) — AZ Alkmaar opened its Eredivisie season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Heracles Almelo on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at AFAS Stadion, surpassing pregame projections with a dominant performance from start to finish.

The home side established control early and never relented, with striker Troy Parrott opening the scoring just five minutes into the match. The early goal set the tone for a first half largely controlled by AZ, which doubled its lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Midfielder Sven Mijnans found the net to send the hosts into the break with a comfortable two-goal advantage.

Heracles, which struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure throughout the contest, saw its challenges compounded by disciplinary issues. The visitors received four yellow cards in the match, with Jannes Wieckhoff, Lequincio Zeefuik, Sem Scheperman and Damon Mirani all being cautioned. Three of those players — Wieckhoff, Zeefuik and Mirani — were substitutes, highlighting a fractious second half for the away side.

AZ put the result beyond any doubt in the 74th minute when forward Mees De Wit scored the team’s third goal. The scoring was capped ten minutes later by midfielder Isak Jensen, who netted in the 84th minute to complete the comprehensive 4-0 scoreline.

The victory was a collective effort, with the AZ bench playing a significant role in the buildup play. Substitutes Jannes Wieckhoff and Lequincio Zeefuik each recorded two assists, while fellow substitute Damon Mirani and Sem Scheperman each added one assist. The contributions underscored AZ’s depth and quality throughout the squad.

The lopsided result defied the pregame analytics from Interstat, whose game simulator had projected a closer 2-1 victory for AZ. The firm’s ELO rating system, while heavily favoring the home side with a 92.9 percent win probability, did not anticipate the margin of victory.

With the win, AZ begins its Eredivisie campaign with one win and no losses, while also holding an identical record across all competitions this season. Heracles starts its league season with no wins and one loss, a record that also reflects its standing in all tournaments.

The match showcased AZ’s offensive efficiency and midfield control, with key performances from goal-scorers Parrott, Mijnans, De Wit and Jensen proving decisive. Heracles, meanwhile, will look to regroup after an opening-day performance that yielded few scoring chances and ended in a decisive defeat.