Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
AZ
Match Time & Date:
17/08/2023
20:45
Prediction: 5-0
FC Santa Coloma
AFAS Stadion will host Thursday’s David-vs-Goliath clash between AZ Alkmaar and Santa Coloma, who face each other in the Conference League third qualifying round, second leg. AZ were struggling to break the deadlock in the first leg until 75th minute when substitute Djordje Mihailovic scored the only goal of the match. Pascal Jansen’s troops then kicked off the new Eredivisie campaign with a splendid 5-1 win over Go Ahead Eagles and they must be high on confidence ahead of the visit of Santa Coloma.
The good news for the hosts is that forward Jesper Karlsson is back from the domestic ban. The underdogs, on the other hand, will have a mountain to climb against AZ Alkmaar, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home. As previously mentioned, David faces Goliath in the Netherlands and anything but a routine home win would be a miracle.
Highlighted Player (Jordy Clasie):
Jordy Clasie is a product of the Feyenoord youth academy who plays for AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder. His main position is defensive midfield, but he is capable of producing fine displays as both central midfielder and centre-back as well.
Clasie played for the likes of Feyenoord, Excelsior (loan), Southampton, and Club Brugge (loan) before returning to Rotterdam. After ending his second spell with Feyenoord, the Dutch footballer joined AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2019. He made his AZ debut in the Eredivisie on August 4, 2019 in a 4-0 win over Fortuna Sittard.
Jordie Clasie has 12 caps with the Netherlands U21 team, and he made his senior debut in a 1-1 draw with Italy on February 6, 2013. Thanks to his elegant style of play, Clasie has earned the nickname of “Dutch Xavi”. The AZ Alkmaar midfielder was born in Haarlem, Netherlands on June 27, 1991.
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.
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
Manchester United 
Everton
