Europa League | League Stage

Sep 25, 2024 at 5.45pm UK

AZ vs Elfsborg

AFAS Stadion

Match preview

AZ took advantage of Ajax's uncharacteristically poor season last year to finish in the top four once again.

Despite losing out to Twente for third place, which would have earned them a Champions League qualifying spot, AZ's league finish still secured them direct entry into the league phase of the Europa League.

The absence of the summer qualifiers has allowed coach Maarten Martens to concentrate on the league for the first six weeks of the season, and his side have taken full advantage.

Only PSV Eindhoven's 100% start has prevented AZ from topping the Eredivisie after six games, with a 0-0 draw at Groningen the only point they have dropped so far.

After opening the season with two 1-0 victories, AZ have been on a roll in recent weeks and returned from the international break with a 9-1 thrashing of Heerenveen.

However, it was a much closer encounter against Zwolle at the weekend that prepared them for this European opener, a 2-1 away win that maintained their impressive start.

The 1981 finalists are back in the competition for the first time since 2020, when they were knocked out at the group stage, contributing to a run of just two wins in their last 10 Europa League outings.

They also suffered the most embarrassing European defeat in their history in this competition when they were beaten 11-2 on aggregate by Lyon in the last 16 in 2017, losing 7-1 in the second leg.

Playing in the Conference League for the past three seasons has brought more success, with the club reaching the semi-finals in 2022-23, but they were knocked out in the group stage last season.

AZ will face Elfsborg for the first time in their opening match, and the Dutch side have a good record against Swedish clubs, having lost just once in six previous meetings.

This will be the visitors' first appearance in a genuine European competition in 11 years, as Elfsborg return to continental action after being knocked out of the Europa League at the group stage in 2013-14.

On that occasion, Elfsborg took just one point from their opening five games and were knocked out, and their draw this time around suggests that they may struggle once again.

According to UEFA's coefficient rankings, Elfsborg have been handed the toughest draw of all 36 Europa League clubs, facing Roma and Tottenham Hotspur in Pot One, Galatasaray in Pot Three and the devilish duo of Nice and Athletic Bilbao in Pot Four.

Manager Oscar Hiljemark, who spent two years in Holland with PSV, will be hoping his side can transfer their domestic form to the continent, having lost just once in their last 19 matches.

After a poor start to the season, which runs from spring to autumn, Elfsborg have bounced back brilliantly and are in with a chance of qualifying for Europe again.

A 0-0 draw with Hammarby at the weekend has kept them in contention with six games to go, as they sit just three points outside the top three after being nowhere at the midway point of the campaign.

However, the distractions of Europe could prove costly to their domestic ambitions should Hiljemark's side go all out to reach the knockout stages.

Recent Performance

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):WWDWWW

Elfsborg Europa League form:WWDWWW

Elfsborg form (all competitions):WWDWDD

Injuries and suspensions

AZ

13 Sem Westerveld

41Jeroen Zoet

4 Bruno Martins Indi

34Mees de Wit

24Lewis Schouten

23Mayckel Lahdo

21Ernest Poku

Elfsborg

No sidelined players

Possible starting lineups

AZ(4-2-3-1)

1Owusu-Oduro(GK)

16Maikuma(DR)

3Goes(DC)

5Penetra(DC)

18Wolfe(DL)

8Clasie(DMC)

6Koopmeiners(DMC)

11Sadiq(AMR)

10Mijnans(AMC)

7Bommel(AML)

9Parrott(FW)

Elfsborg(3-4-3)

31Pettersson(GK)

8Holmen(DC)

29Buhari(DC)

2Yegbe(DC)

23Hult(ML)

27B Zeneli(MC)

16Ouma(MC)

15Simon Hedlund(MR)

9A Zeneli(WR)

10 Baidoo(FW)

18 Qasem(WL)