Despite the squad being ravished by coronavirus, AZ Alkmaar will face Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday. Kick-off in Naples is at 5.55 pm.

It has been a terrible start to the season for AZ Alkmaar, who dropped out of the Champions League after a defeat to Dynamo Kiev. They have also started the league with four straight draws, with three of those seeing AZ give up at least two-goal leads.

Now, AZ Alkmaar must travel to Italy to face in-form Napoli without 13 players, who have tested positive for coronavirus. Despite the infections, the game is set to go ahead and only intervention from the local authorities can step in.

Opponents Napoli finished seventh in Serie A last season after a difficult campaign. However, they have started this season in good form, and hammered Atalanta Bergamo 4-1 at the weekend.

Team News

AZ are without 13 players due to corona virus. The names of these players have not been confirmed but Ron Vlaar, Timo Letschert, Jordy Clasie, Ferdy Druijf, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Hakon Evjen, Juan Familia-Castillo and star striker Myron Boadu are all missing from the squad.

A number of youngsters have made the trip to Italy including Maxim Gullit, Kenzo Goudmijn, and Mo Taabouni.

Possible AZ line-up: Bizot, Svensson, Wijndal, Hatzidiakos, Martins Indi, Midtso, Koopmeiners, De Wit, Boadu, Gudmundsson, Karlsson

AZ will not have to face former Ajax striker Arkaduisz Milik, who has been left out of the Napoli squad. However, Hirving Lozano is set to play and he is in good form having scored a double at the weekend. Dries Mertens will also feature.

Possible Napoli line-up: Ospina, Di Lorenzo, Hysaj, Koulibaly, Manolas, Fabian Ruiz, Bakayoko, Politano, Lozano, Mertens, Osimhen

Odds

Napoli 3/20 Draw 13/2 AZ Alkmaar 16/1

A tough night ahead for AZ?

AZ Alkmaar are not in good form defensively and this is the last game the club will have wanted amid a covid 19 outbreak.

Napoli has a squad full of stars and they have started the campaign in great form. The clash has a big home win written all over it.

The game should not be going ahead, but if it is played then it is going to be a very tough evening for AZ Alkmaar. A tough defeat may be coming and AZ will have to pick themselves up for the ties against Real Sociedad and HNK Rijeka.




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