AZ Alkmaar face a difficult task to reach the Europa League semi finals after they were drawn against Portuguese giants Benfica in the quarter finals.
- By Michael Bell
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The last Eredivisie club left in Europe, AZ Alkmaar will host Benfica at the AFAS Stadion on April 3rd before traveling to Lisbon a week later.
Dick Advocaat’s side booked their place in the next round on Thursday as a 0-0 draw in Russia against Anzhi gave them a 1-0 aggregate win, while Benfica just saw off Premier League side Tottenham 5-3 on aggregate.
Benfica reached the final of the competition last year before defeat to Chelsea, and currently lead the Portuguese league ahead of Sporting Lisbon and Porto. They will also bring some familiar faces back to Netherlands with Miralem Sulejmani, and Filip Djuricic leaving Eredivisie clubs to join Benfica in the summer.
AZ Alkmaar are unbeaten in ten games in the Europa League so far this season, but they will face their toughest test by far when Benfica come to town. Jorge Jesus’s side have only lost three times so far this season, once in the league against Maritimo, and twice in the Champions League against PSG and Olympiakos.
Full Europa League draw:
AZ v Benfica
Lyon v Juventus
Basel v Valencia
Porto v Sevilla
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