PSV vs AZ Alkmaar: AZ Win Johan Cruyff Shield 4-0
AZ Alkmaar beat PSV 4-0 in the Johan Cruyff Shield at the Philips Stadion, with goals from Mexx Meerdink, Weslley Patati, Elijah Dijkstra and Ro-Zangelo Daal.
Editor's note, Nov. 7, 2026: An earlier version of this article included internal working notes in its opening paragraph and summary. They have been removed.
EINDHOVEN — AZ Alkmaar beat PSV 4-0 in the Johan Cruyff Shield at the Philips Stadion on Sunday, with Mexx Meerdink, Weslley Patati, Elijah Dijkstra and Ro-Zangelo Daal on the scoresheet.
The result handed PSV a bruising start to the new Dutch season and underlined how quickly AZ found rhythm in Eindhoven. PSV had 34.8% possession, six shots on goal and 15 shot attempts, but Matej Kovár ended up conceding four times as AZ turned their chances into a clean, clinical win.
AZ start fast and stay sharp
Kick-off at the Philips Stadion came with PSV handing 18-year-old Amir Bouhamdi a starting place after his strong pre-season, while AZ named Mexx Meerdink through the middle and left Kees Smit, Troy Parrott and Calvin Stengs on the bench. The line-ups told part of the story before the first whistle. PSV went with Matej Kovár in goal behind a back four of Kiliann Sildillia, Ryan Flamingo, Yarek Gasiorowski and Noah Fernández, while AZ set up with a back five.
AZ did not need long to punish PSV’s early slippage. Meerdink opened the scoring in the 25th minute, and AZ kept the pressure on after the break with Patati adding a second in the 51st minute. Elijah Dijkstra made it 3-0 in the 58th minute, before Ro-Zangelo Daal completed the scoring in the 66th minute.
PSV’s numbers told the same story. The hosts finished with 34.8% possession against AZ’s 65.2%, and they struggled to turn spells in midfield into anything decisive in front of goal. Joey Veerman, Mauro Júnior and Sven Mijnans started in support of Guus Til, Dennis Man and Bouhamdi, but PSV never found a way through a disciplined AZ block.
What the loss means for PSV
The defeat matters because the Johan Cruyff Shield serves as the curtain-raiser to the Dutch season, and PSV went into it as league champions. A 4-0 loss at home is not just about one trophy. It immediately raises questions about sharpness, finishing and how Peter Bosz’s side will handle early pressure once the league campaign begins in earnest.
AZ, by contrast, leave Eindhoven with a statement result and a clear sign that their structure held up under pressure. They also controlled the shot count, finishing with 22 attempts to PSV’s 15, while goalkeeper J. De Busser recorded six saves to keep PSV out. The margin was blunt. PSV never answered it.
For PSV, the cleanest reading comes from the scoreboard at full-time: 0-4. For AZ, the numbers were even better than the scoreline suggested.
