AZ failed to beat Borussia Dortmund in a practice match, the score being 2-2 in Marbella, Spain. Vangelis Pavlidis and Jens Odgaard helped the Alkmaarders to a comfortable margin. However, it was still given away.
The match had four halves of thirty minutes each. Donyell Malen from Wieringen was in the starting line-up for the Germans. Dani de Wit was given the opportunity by Pascal Jansen to prove himself at 8, so Jens Odgaard started at 10. Mayckel Lahdo (back after an injury) replaced Jayden Addai in the cup match against HHC.
AZ convinced in the initial phase and quickly took the lead. David Møller Wolfe gave a measured cross to Vangelis Pavlidis and the Greek outwitted goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Through Odgaard and Addai, the Alkmaarders had even more chances to score more goals, until the Dane was accurate. He completed a pass from Addai well: 0-2.
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Partly due to the many changes after the first two halves, it quickly became exciting again. Substitute Marcel Sabitzer made it 1-2. Marco Reus then even made it 2-2 and the score never changed. Newcomer Gonçalo Esteves and the talented goalkeeper Tristan Kuijsten made their unofficial debut for AZ.
In exactly one week, FC Twente will be AZ’s first official opponent in 2024. Kick-off in Enschede is at 6:45 PM.
AZ line-up (first hour): Owusu-Oduro; Kasius, Penetra, Martins Indi, Møller Wolfe (Dekker/31); Clasie, D. De Wit (Dantas/46), Odgaard; Lahdo (Addai/31), Pavlidis, Van Brederode.
Line-up AZ (second hour): Owusu-Oduro (Kuijsten/91); Kwakman (Esteves/91), Goes, Bazoer, Dekker (M. De Wit/91); Goudmijn, Dantas, Smit (Schouten/91); Sadiq, Meerdink (Poku/91), Van Bommel.