Europa League Preview: AZ Alkmaar - v - Dundalk

AZ ALKMAAR

John Van den Brom’s AZ Alkmaar side will open their second consecutive UEFA Europa League campaign by entertaining the League of Ireland Champions Dundalk at the AFAS Stadium on Thursday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time).

AZ qualified for this season’s tournament following their fourth place finish in last year’s Dutch Eredivisie. Their high league placing last season was mostly down to the prolific goal scoring of Vincent Janssen. The Netherlands international striker topped the goal scoring charts of Holland’s top flight with 27 goals.

They will though be without their 2015/16 player of the season for the upcoming campaign following the forward’s recent departure to Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur. In his absence AZ have seemingly found adequate replacements, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh in particular starting the season prominently, scoring three goals in five matches.

AZ currently sit fourth in the Dutch championship with 10 points.

Van den Brom has distinguished himself as a shrewd operator following his successful spell in charge of Belgian giants Anderlecht. The 49-year-old Dutchman led them to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in both of his seasons in charge, while he also won two league titles during his spell in Belgium.

Van den Brom was very honest when speaking ahead of the match: “During the preparations for the match, we didn’t talk about the semi-professional status of Dundalk.

“Perhaps they have a butcher, an architect and an electrician in their ranks, but we have to stop underestimating the opposition, especially as a Dutch side,” Van den Brom told goal.com.

DUNDALK FC

The Lilywhites travel to Alkmaar for Thursday’s Europa League Group D match with AZ looking to become the first Irish side to avoid defeat in the group stages of European competition.

Stephen Kenny’s men are only the second Irish side ever to reach this stage, following in the footsteps of Shamrock Rovers who did so in the 2011/12 competition.

Like Rovers, Dundalk have been placed in a very testing group, perhaps even more difficult than the one that the Hoops were pitted in five seasons ago, both in terms of the teams that they will face and the travel logistics involved in their campaign (see here).

The Louth men go into the match in bullish form. Since their exit from the Champions League at the play-off stage at the hands of Legia Warsaw, the 2015 Irish double winners have won six straight matches - two of which came in the FAI Cup.

In the process the Lilywhites have advanced to the last-four of the national cup, while also extending their lead at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division to a considerable ten points.

Defensively Dundalk are retaining their composure. Much of this is down to the return of the Town’s ever-reliable rock at the back, Brian Gartland. Since the Dubliner has returned to first-team action, the Lilywhites have conceded just a solitary goal, and that was a stunner from Kurtis Byrne during the Lilywhites’ visit to Bohemians two weeks ago.

Gartland’s partnership with Andy Boyle has been the platform for Dundalk’s offensive prowess to flourish in recent seasons, while the defender is also a deadly weapon from attacking set-pieces.

The Dundalk manager has an abundance of riches to choose from though. His preferred starting XI is without question the best in Ireland. However, there is a very high standard from his squad-players and youngsters.

The likes of Dean Shiels, Chris Shields and Paddy Barrett could class themselves as regulars with any other club in the league, although with the Lilywhites they find it difficult to gain starting berths.

In the coming weeks though, the stated trio along with the likes of Shane Grimes, the O’Connor brothers, Ciaran and Michael, Georgie Poynton and the talented Carlton Ubaezuono are sure to get game time as the fixture congestion escalates.

Ahead of arguably the most eagerly anticipated match in the club’s history, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny reflected upon the improvement that his players have made to get to this point.

Kenny told rte.ie: “We have consistently gotten better over the last three seasons. We’ve got good players. You can do nothing without good players.

“Our players are technically very good and have a very good attitude and they are improving. It is a young team that has improved over the last couple of seasons.”

Referee: Clayton Pisani (Malta)

MATCH STATS

Dundalk have never beaten a Dutch team in European competition having previously faced Ajax, PSV, Utrecht and Wettingen.

Stephen Kenny has won four, drawn four and lost four of his 12 European matches in charge of the Lilywhites.

Dundalk have won their last two Europa League games away from home, against Jeunesse Esch and Hajduk Split, both in 2014.

PREDICTION

AZ 1-1 Dundalk FC

BETTING

AZ 2/7; Draw 9/2; Dundalk FC 9/1.

AZ

Injured: Jop van der Linden

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Dundalk FC:

Injured: Ciaran O’Connor

Doubtful: Darren Meenan

Suspended: None

Caoimhin Reilly will be in the Netherlands for extratime.ie on Thursday to cover the AZ Alkmaar v Dundalk game live from the AFAS Stadion.