Anderlecht will host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday in the Europa Conference League quarterfinals. With eight teams left in the competition, both Anderlecht and AZ Alkmaar will fancy their chances of winning UEFA’s third-tier tournament.
The Belgians go into the match having a poor season on the domestic front. Anderlecht are ninth in the Belgium Pro League.
🇧🇪 𝑨 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒈𝒊𝒖𝒎 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔📖 Alles wat jij moet weten over tegenstander RSC Anderlecht!#AZ #andaz #UECL— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) April 10, 2023
🇧🇪 𝑨 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒈𝒊𝒖𝒎 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔📖 Alles wat jij moet weten over tegenstander RSC Anderlecht!#AZ #andaz #UECL
Although they are fighting for qualification to the Europa League playoffs in the Pro League, Anderlecht will have their full attention on Thursday’s Conference League first leg.
AZ Alkmaar are battling for Champions League qualification in the Eredivisie. The Cheeseheads are off the pace for the title in the Eredivisie. However, they can still finish second. Like Anderlecht, AZ Alkmaar will feel like they have nothing to lose on Thursday night in the Conference League.
Anderlecht recently found form after spending much of the season blowing hot and cold. The Belgians are unbeaten in six straight matches in all competitions with four wins and two draws. Anderlecht’s defence did not concede a goal in their last five matches in all competitions.
Each of Anderlecht’s last six matches ended with under 2.5 goals. The Purple have a record of nine wins, six draws, and eight losses at home this season in all competitions. They defeated Spain’s Villarreal 2-1 on aggregate in the last 16 to reach the quarterfinals.
AZ Alkmaar lost two of their last three matches in the Eredivisie. The Cheeseheads reached the quarterfinals thanks to a 4-2 aggregate win over Lazio in the round of 16. AZ won both legs of the tie.
Alkmaar have been good on the road this season, posting a record of 15W-1D-6L. They outscored opponents away from home 41-21.
Thursday’s Conference League fixture will be the first between Anderlecht and AZ Alkmaar since the 2011-12 Europa League. AZ Alkmaar won both matches that season in the tournament by a combined score of 2-0.
Anderlecht are led in goals by former Leicester City striker Islam Slimani. The striker has seven goals in the Pro League and Conference League combined. Former leading goalscorer Fabio Silva had his loan at Anderlecht terminated by Wolverhampton. He is now with PSV Eindhoven.
Vangelis Pavlidis leads AZ Alkmaar in goals with 14 in the Eredivisie and Conference League combined. Jens Odgaard has 10 goals combined in the two competitions.
Although Anderlecht are in form, AZ Alkmaar arguably have the better team. The Dutch club should post a 1-0 win over Anderlecht in the Conference League first leg. It will be the Cheeseheads’ third straight win over Anderlecht in all competitions.