On paper, AZ is much stronger than opponent Tuzla City. Still, the Alkmaarders have to work hard for the return in Sarajevo in Bosnia. “We have to avoid dangerous dead game moments,” said trainer Pascal Jansen. AZ won the first leg in Alkmaar 1-0.
The backdrop for the second heat of the Conference League tonight is Grbavica stadium, which can accommodate about thirteen thousand spectators. “The field is okay,” says Vangelis Pavlidis yesterday after the final training. “Although it could be better.” Only 2,500 seats are expected to be occupied. This is partly because Tuzla City normally finishes the matches in its own stadium in the city of Tuzla. However, this accommodation does not meet European requirements. Tuzla is located more than a hundred kilometers from Sarajevo.
Purity
Last week, AZ won with a penalty kick from Dani de Wit. The Alkmaarders also had plenty of opportunities, but trainer Pascal Jansen saw his players fail in the completion. “It is a pity that we did not score more goals at home. Tonight we have to be very clean.”
Fredrik Midtsjo
AZ is not at full strength in Sarajevo. For example, Mees de Wit is ill and Yukinari Sugawara and Jesper Karlsson are not there due to injuries. The newest addition Zinho Vanheusden is also missing in the Bosnian capital. The Belgian defender comes over from Inter from Italy on a rental basis for one season. However, Jens Odgaard is there. The creative attacker was missing last Sunday in the friendly match against Bologna (1-0). And Fredrik Midtsjo will probably play his last game for AZ tonight. The experienced midfielder will continue his career with Galatasaray from Turkey.
Should AZ eliminate opponent Tuzla City tonight, Dundee United will be the next obstacle in the third preliminary round of the Conference League. Then the play-offs are still on the program and only after that the group stage. Tuzla City – AZ starts tonight at 8.45 pm.