After ending three preliminary rounds, AZ is finally where it wants to be. The Alkmaarders apparently easily qualified for the main tournament of the Conference League. As a result, AZ plays European football at least until the winter break. “We deserve to be in the Conference League,” says Wouter Goes.
In Alkmaar, Levski Sofia was again settled. Last week it already won 2-0 and with that the foundation was already laid. After five minutes, Ibrahim Sadiq and Mexx Meerdink made sure that AZ was on roses early. A second goal from Sadiq and a goal from substitute Lequincio Zeefuik made the party complete: 4-1. “Very good”, coach Maarten Martens thought his team. “It was actually already played after five minutes.”
The route to the main tournament of the Conference League led AZ through Finland, Liechtenstein and Bulgaria. Ilves Tampere, FC Vaduz and Levski Sofia were eliminated successively. “There is a burden of our shoulders,” says Goes about checking an objective. But that is not celebrated. “We are a bit boring. The focus is on Sunday.”
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The draw for the Conference League is tomorrow at 1 p.m. Then AZ knows which clubs it is linked to the main tournament. AZ plays six European matches until the winter break. If it ends with the best 24 teams, it will qualify for the next round of the Conference League. A place with the best 8 is rewarded with skipping the intermediate round.