Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
AZ
Match Time & Date:
30/11/2023
18:45
Prediction: 3-1
Zrinjski
AZ Alkmaar will be aiming to keep their Conference League knockout stages hopes alive when they take on Zrinjski at AFAS Stadion. The Cheese Farmers aim to build on a routine 3-0 win over FC Volendam and they are seen as hot favourites to pick up all three points from Thursday’s encounter. Sven Mijnans limped off with injury at the weekend, with Djordje Mihailovic likely to step up, whereas Mees de Wit remains in the recovery room.
Mario Ivankovic’s men, on the other hand, recorded a historical comeback in a 4-3 win over AZ earlier in the process and they surely want to repeat the success. Zrinjski, though, are not regarded as good travellers and we do not believe that they are capable of claiming yet another major scalp in Group E. Both Hrvoje Barisic and Mario Ticinovic are out of contention with injuries for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Riechedly Bazoer):
Despite playing for PSV during his youth career, Riechedly Bazoer made his Eredivisie debut with Ajax. The central midfielder who was born on 12 October, 1996 in Utrecht, scored his first goal for Ajax on 15 February, 2015 in a 4-2 victory over Twente.
Four days later he made his European debut with the Amsterdammers, taking part in a 1-0 win over Legia in the Europa League. Bazoer scored five goals in 29 league appearances for Ajax in the 2015/2016 season, but he failed to win the domestic trophy with Frank de Boer’s troops.
Speaking of his international career, Bazoer has two caps for Netherlands U21 team and he made his debut for the first team on 13 November, 2015 against Wales. It has to be noted that he came as a late substitute in the 3-2 victory over the Dragons. Back in 2012 the right-footed midfielder won the UEFA U17 European Championship with the Dutch national team.
Highlighted Team (AZ):
AZ Alkmaar are a professional football club that play their home matches at AFAS Stadion. The venue was opened on 4 August, 2006 and the construction of the stadium cost €38 million. AFAS Stadion is able to hold 17 023 spectators.
The Cheeseheads were founded on 10 May, 1967 and they won their first trophy in 1981, finishing the season 12 points clear of Dutch giants Ajax. 18 years later AZ clinched their second Eredivisie trophy, with the team finishing the 2008/2009 campaign with 80 points, 11 clear of second-placed Twente. In 1981 the club made it to the UEFA Cup final, but English side Ipswich Town proved to be a big catch for the Dutch team.
AZ’s home kits are red and white and they wear black shirts when playing on the road. The likes of Shota Arveladze, Jozy Altidore, Ron Vlaar, Joris Mathijsen, Graziano Pelle, Simon Poulsen, Moussa Dembele and Sergio Romero are notable footballers who played for AZ in the past.
Brighton
Southampton
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
