Preview: AZ Alkmaar vs Sparta Prague – prediction, staff information, lineups

AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Prague will each look to grab the initiative within the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie on the AFAS Stadion on Thursday evening.

The hosts needed to come by means of a play-off tie towards Armenian facet Noah to achieve the knockout levels, having completed 14th within the league part, 10 locations under their guests.

Match preview

While AZ have endured a comparatively underwhelming league marketing campaign thus far, their cup performances have been a significant spotlight as they continue to be within the hunt for home and European glory.

Currently sitting sixth within the Eredivisie table with eight matches left to play, Leeroy Echteld‘s males are heading in the right direction to complete outdoors the highest 5 for the primary time because the 2016-17 season.

However, De Kaasboeren have reached a second successive KNVB Beker last after defeating Telstar in final Wednesday’s semi-final, establishing a showdown with NEC subsequent month.

That cup win was sandwiched between league defeats to Utrecht and, most not too long ago, PSV Eindhoven, that means AZ head into their upcoming European task with only one win from their final three matches throughout all competitions.

Thursday’s hosts will hope for a repeat of their final continental outing on house turf, the place they dispatched Noah 4-0 to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit and make it three wins from 4 Conference League matches in entrance of their followers this time period, all of which they’ve managed a clear sheet.

© Imago

Alongside Strasbourg, Rakow and AEK Athens, Sparta Prague had been one among simply 4 groups to say most factors in every of their last three matches through the Europa Conference League group levels.

As a consequence, Brian Priske‘s males completed fourth within the standings with 13 factors, simply three behind leaders Strasbourg – a exceptional turnaround contemplating they collected solely 4 factors from their opening three fixtures.

Since returning for his second spell in cost, Priske has gained 62.5% of his 40 matches, however his facet now path Slavia Prague by 10 factors within the Czech First League following a 3-1 defeat in Sunday’s Prague derby.

Prior to that, the Maroons had been knocked out of the MOL Cup on penalties by Mlada Boleslav, that means the Conference League now represents their final reasonable probability of silverware this season.

Since profitable their first two aggressive away video games of 2026, Thursday’s guests are winless within the final three, scoring simply as soon as in that span, and Sparta might want to tackle their latest struggles on the street to keep away from returning to the epet ARENA with a mountain to climb.

AZ Alkmaar Conference League kind:

AZ Alkmaar kind (all competitions):

Sparta Prague Conference League kind:

Sparta Prague kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Goal Sports Images

Jordy Clasie stays sidelined with an ankle harm that has saved him out since September, whereas Mateo Chavez is ready to overlook a sixth consecutive sport on account of a shoulder downside.

Japanese worldwide Seiya Maikuma can be unavailable for the hosts, so Elijah Dijkstra will proceed to deputise at right-back.

Sven Mijnans’s brace towards Noah took him to 5 Conference League objectives for the season – almost half of AZ’s whole of 11 – and the midfielder is definitely one to observe.

Sparta are with out Patrik Vydra, who was compelled off with an harm shortly after scoring the opener towards Slavia Prague.

Vydra joins Elias Cobbaut, Santiago Eneme, Asger Sorensen and Peter Vindahl on the guests’ remedy desk.

Currently battling respective knee issues, Magnus Andersen and Ondrej Penxa are additionally out of rivalry for the journey to Alkmaar.

AZ Alkmaar potential beginning lineup:

Owusu-Oduro; Dijkstra, Goes, Penetra, Van Duijl; Koopmeiners, Smit; Jensen, Mijnans, Daal; Parrott

Sparta Prague potential beginning lineup:

Surovcik; Zeleny, Sevinsky, Uchenna; Rynes, Irving, Kairinen, Kaderabek; Haraslin, Kuchta, Mercado

We say: AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Sparta Prague

Unbeaten in eight of 9 house matches this yr (W6, D2), AZ have been a formidable power on the AFAS Stadion currently, and the onus is on them to place themselves within the driving seat for this tie.

We are backing the Dutch outfit to make mild work of their Czech guests and put one foot within the quarter-finals.

For information evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.