On Thursday, AZ Alkmaar faces a significant challenge as they host Shakhtar Donetsk at AFAS Stadion in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final. The Dutch team starts this match with a three-goal deficit after losing 3-0 in the first leg held in Krakow.
Match Background
In the initial encounter, Shakhtar Donetsk demonstrated their superiority, scoring all three goals in a decisive 18-minute span during the match. AZ Alkmaar will have to rewrite history, as they have lost both previous European ties when trailing by three goals after the first leg.
However, the hosts bring a degree of optimism based on their home performance. AZ Alkmaar has won seven consecutive matches at AFAS Stadion, with the last three victories showing them taking a lead into halftime. They secured a crucial 3-0 victory against Heerenveen in their last match, which improved their standing to sixth place in the Eredivisie.
AZ Alkmaar’s Strategy
- AZ Alkmaar must aim for a strong start to overcome the deficit.
- Recent trends indicate a solid defensive strategy is vital.
- The team has kept clean sheets in four out of their last six matches.
The current lineup may see Troy Parrott spearheading the attack, backed by Sven Mijnans. The preference for a 3-4-3 formation could remain intact after their successful weekend performance.
Team News
AZ Alkmaar is missing key players like Peer Koopmeiners, Jizz Hornkamp, and Denso Kasius due to injuries. The team managed to navigate their last match without any new injury concerns.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Advantage
Shakhtar Donetsk comes into this match with a firm grip on their semi-final ambitions, thanks to an effective game plan that resulted in a solid victory in the first leg. The team has successfully converted all eight previous European ties where they began with a three-goal advantage.
- Shakhtar’s away performance has been impressive, with five consecutive wins in the Conference League.
- Overall, they remain unbeaten in eight away matches in the competition.
Shakhtar’s most recent match ended in a 2-2 draw against LNZ Cherkasy, which may have impacted their momentum. Notably, they are assessing the availability of key players Eguinaldo and Isaque Silva ahead of Thursday’s clash.
Expected Lineups
| AZ Alkmaar | Zoet; Dijkstra, Goes, Penetra, De Wit; Clasie, Smit; Jensen, Mijnans, Daal; Parrott |
|---|---|
| Shakhtar Donetsk | Riznyk; Tobias, Bondar, Matviienko, Henrique; Ocheretko; Alisson, Pedrinho, Bondarenko, Newerton; K Elias |
Conclusion and Prediction
AZ Alkmaar’s home form raises hopes for a potential comeback, but overcoming a three-goal deficit against the consistent Shakhtar Donetsk poses a formidable task. Despite the possible resurgence from the hosts, it is anticipated that Shakhtar’s attacking capabilities will ultimately prevail, allowing them to progress with a 4-3 aggregate score.
