Good afternoon! Another European evening is on the program for AZ and Ajax. AZ visits Ludogorets in Bulgaria and Ajax takes on Lazio in Amsterdam. In our live blog we will keep you informed of all developments in and around the stadiums.
Ludogorets – AZ 0-2
Ajax – Lazio (9 p.m.)
Ernest Poku is tucked away on the right. He passes to Sven Mijnans, but does not do so perfectly, which means Mijnans has to hold back for a moment. His effort is headed away from the goal.
In Bulgaria the ball rolls again at Ludogorets – AZ. The Alkmaarders are ahead 0-2 thanks to goals from Ruben van Bommel and Seiya Maikuma.
Ajax wants to regain its footing against Lazio. In the Premier League it lost 2-1 to AZ last weekend and last week it was stuck in a 1-1 draw against FC Utrecht. In the Europa League, Ajax can rely on a very strong series. In the last three home games, the team from Amsterdam scored no fewer than 12 times and conceded 0 goals.
Ernest Poku is put away and shoots on goal. Sergio Padt saves from the effort of the AZ right winger.
There Ludogorets is for a moment in front of AZ’s goal. A header from Kwadwo Duah goes meters over the goal of Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
It seems to be a very easy evening for AZ. The Alkmaarders dominate the match and have not yet seen any danger from Ludogorets.
After AZ’s possession for a long time, the ball reaches Ruben van Bommel, who shoots the ball towards the corner and sees goalkeeper Sergio Padt save it.
Seiya Maikuma shoots the second AZ goal against the ropes with his left! The right back is outlawed in the penalty area and doubles the score.
A razor-sharp counter from AZ! Ruben van Bommel puts away Ernest Poku, who shoots at goalkeeper Sergio Padt and Van Bommel then heads in. The VAR briefly looked at offside, but the goal counts!
The first chance is for AZ. Alexandre Penetra heads over from a corner.
The ball rolls at Ludogorets – AZ.
Ludogorets starts with Sergio Padt on goal against AZ. Padt was still injured at the end of November, but last weekend he made his return against Botev Plovdiv. Ludogrets has not yet won in the Europa League. AZ has seven points after five games and can do very well tonight.
Ludogorets was founded in 2001 and rose to the highest level in Bulgaria in a number of years. The club from Razgrad has been playing at the highest level since 2011. Remarkably, they have also become Bulgarian champions every season since. The club won a total of thirteen national titles.
Mayor Femke Halsema previously decided that no away audiences would be welcome at the Europa League match between Ajax and Lazio Roma. According to her, the risk of right-wing extremist, anti-Semitic, racist expressions and disturbances is too great.
The match against Lazio is Ajax’s first European home match since the match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. There were several incidents of violence in the city around the match, against and by Maccabi supporters. The incidents and the days of unrest that followed in the city influenced the decision to ban the presence of Italian away fans. “The football match takes place during a period of great tension in the city. The priority of the triangle is to monitor and preserve public order, safety and peace.”
AZ takes on the Bulgarian Ludogorets from Razgrad. The Alkmaarders achieved seven points from five games in the Europa League and could do well to reach the next round. Ludogorets is in the bottom regions and has only played two points.
We are preparing for what will hopefully be a great Europa League evening. AZ and Ajax both take action. Follow everything in our live blog!